Houston County Prepares for Nov. 3 Election as Two Precincts Combine

By Greg Ritchie

Messenger Reporter

HOUSTON COUNTY – With the Tuesday, Nov. 3, general election approaching, most Houston County voters will return to their normal Election Day polling places, but voters in two precincts will find their locations combined with neighboring precincts.

Precinct 12 will be combined with Precinct 4, with voters casting ballots at the Houston County Senior Citizen Center, 716 W. Wells St. in Crockett. Precinct 18 will be combined with Precinct 7 at the Lovelady Community Center – 2, 124 E. Cox St. in Lovelady. Houston County Elections Administrator Cynthia Lum said the two changes were necessary because of a lack of available facilities.

“These are locations that those voters have voted at before when we’ve consolidated,” Lum said. “Everybody else will go to their original precinct to vote.”

While those two consolidations have already been planned, Lum said another concern remains as Election Day draws closer: finding enough people to work the polls.

“Yes, we are still desperately in need of volunteers,” Lum said. “That means someone who is willing to volunteer their time for a little pay to work an election for 14 hours.”

Lum said the Elections Office currently has enough workers to meet minimum staffing requirements at the county’s polling locations, but there is little room to spare if someone becomes unavailable.

“We are at bare minimum of meeting the criteria to have workers at every precinct,” Lum said. “If anyone does cancel, there is a chance we may have to consolidate or combine another location due to lack of personnel.”

Working an election does not require someone to be without a political affiliation, Lum explained, but poll workers are expected to put politics aside while doing the job.

“We’re nonpartisan when we’re working,” Lum said. “That does not mean you cannot be affiliated with a party, but while on the job, we do not talk politics. Everyone gets to vote.”

The Elections Office will hold a poll worker recruitment meeting and public election question-and-answer session Friday, Oct. 2, at the Houston County Senior Citizen Center. Lum said the meeting will begin at 10 a.m., and recruitment will continue through the Elections Office afterward.

For voters, another important date comes quickly. The last day to register for the Nov. 3 election is Monday, Oct. 5.

Lum said voters who are unsure of their registration status can check through VoteTexas.gov. She also encouraged anyone having trouble checking online to contact the Houston County Elections Office directly.

“We are happy to take phone calls and check you in person through our office,” Lum said.

The Elections Office can be reached at 936-544-3255, extension 243.

Early voting will begin Monday, Oct. 19, and continue through Friday, Oct. 30, at the Houston County Senior Citizen Center, 716 W. Wells St. in Crockett.

Voting will be from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19, through Friday, Oct. 23. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, and from 1 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25. During the final week, early voting will be available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26, through Friday, Oct. 30.

Applications for ballots by mail and Federal Post Card Applications must be received by the close of business Friday, Oct. 23.

The election includes federal, statewide, district and county races, including U.S. Senate, U.S. House District 10, governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, State Senate District 3, State House District 9 and several unopposed Houston County offices.

On Election Day, voters must cast their ballots in the precinct where they are registered.

For Lum and the Elections Office, the immediate work is making certain those locations have enough people behind the tables when voters arrive.

“We look forward to seeing everyone at the election,” Lum said. “Early voting is Oct. 19 through Oct. 30. Election Day is Nov. 3.”

Greg Ritchie can be reached at [email protected]