Less than 3 percent of the 23,351 registered voters in Hopkins County had cast ballots at the end of the first 4 days of early voting for the July 14 Party Primary Runoff Elections.
Overall, 536 voters (2.3 percent) cast ballots in person during the first 4 days of early voting, shortened for the weekend in observance of Independence Day. The cumulative totals submitted to the Texas Secretary of State’s Office at the close of business July 2 showed an additional 98 mailed ballots for Hopkins County voters as well.
Republican Primary
In the Republican Party Primary Runoff, 476 in-person ballots were cast during the first 4 days of early voting. All 98 mail ballots were Republican ballots, according to the data submitted to the Secretary of State’s Office.
On the first day of early voting, 106 Hopkins County voters cast ballots in person at the polling center on Jefferson Street in the Republican party primary runoff, according to the running totals posted by the election judge Monday evening. The second day an additional 124 votes were cast and 118 on July 1 and 128 votes by personal appearance on July 2, according to the SOS reports.
The Hopkins County Republican ballot features only one runoff, between incumbent Dan Flynn and challenger Bryan Slaton for State Representative District 2. The winner of the Republican nomination for District 2 State Representative will face Democrat Bill Brannon in the General Election in November.
Democratic Primary
Although the Democratic ballot has two races, considerably fewer ballots had been cast by Democrats than Republicans during the first 4 days of early voting.
Overall, only 60 voters had cast ballots by the close of business on July 2. By day, the in-person tallies in the Democratic runoff were 15 ballots cast on June 29, 17 on June 30, 10 on July 1 and 18 on July 2, according to the cumulative totals reported to the Secretary of State.
The two runoffs on the Hopkins County Democratic primary runoff ballot are between Roberto R. “Beto” Alonzo or Chrysta Castañeda for Texas Railroad Commissioner and Royce West and Mary “MJ” Hegar for United States Senator.
The winner of the Democratic nomination for Railroad Commissioner will face Republican James “Jim” Wright on the ballot in November. The Democratic Party winner will face incumbent John Cornyn on the November election ballot.
Where, How to Vote
Although the first week of early voting was shortened with the voting center closed July 3-4 in observance of Independence Day, early voting in the July 14 Party Primary Runoff Elections will continue from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday,-Friday, July 6-10, in the Precinct 2 Court inside Hopkins County Courthouse Annex (the Tax Office/JP Court building), at 128 Jefferson St. in Sulphur Springs.
On Primary Runoff Election Day, July 14, voting will be conducted from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the four consolidated voting centers. Voters may cast ballots at any of the four voting centers:
- Our Savior Lutheran Church, 100 Texas St., Sulphur Springs;
- Morning Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, 208 Fuller St., Sulphur Springs;
- Hopkins County Courthouse, 118 Church St., Sulphur Springs; and
- League Street Church of Christ, 1100 South League Street, Sulphur Springs.
Voters who possess one of the following 7 approved forms of photo ID must present that ID at the polls:
- Texas Driver License issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (License is not required to be REAL ID compliant),
- Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS,
- Texas Personal Identification Card issued by DPS,
- Texas Handgun License issued by DPS,
- United States Military Identification Card containing the person’s photograph,
- United States Citizenship Certificate containing the person’s photograph, and
- United States Passport (book or card).
Voters who do not possess and cannot reasonably obtain one of the 7 forms of approved photo ID may execute a Reasonable Impediment Declaration form, available to them at each polling location, and provide a supporting form of identification.
With the exception of the U.S. Citizenship Certificate, which does not expire, the acceptable photo ID must be current or, for voters aged 18-69, have expired no more than 4 years before being presented for voter qualification at the polling place. A voter 70 years of age or older may use a form of acceptable photo ID listed above that has expired for any length of time if the identification is otherwise valid.
Those completing a Reasonable Impediment Declaration form will be required to present a copy or original of 1 of the following supporting forms of identification:
- a government document that shows the voter’s name and an address, including the voter’s voter registration certificate
- a current utility bill
- a bank statement
- a government check
- a paycheck
- a certified domestic (from a U.S. state or territory) birth certificate
- a document confirming birth admissible in a court of law which establishes the voter’s identity (which may include a foreign birth document)
The address on an acceptable form of photo identification or a supporting form of identification, if applicable, does not have to match the voter’s address on the list of registered voters, according to Hughs.
For more information on voting in Texas, including candidates in each party’s runoff elections, visit www.votetexas.gov.
