Early voting starts at fever pitch

By LPR Staff

Editor/POST-REGISTER

Like most of the nation, Caldwell County’s voters have kept a keen eye on this election cycle. Now that Early Voting has opened, voters seem eager to make their voices heard – or to get it over with.

According to figures released by Election Administrator Pamela Ohlendorf, the first few days of

early voting appears to be record-breaking, with 938 people casting ballots on Monday, and another 693 on Tuesday. These figures, she said, do not include any provisional ballots, omissions or limited ballots.

Records were not immediately available regarding prior years’ early voting turnouts, but Ohlendorf said anecdotally on Monday afternoon that the numbers seemed higher than she could recall seeing in the past.

Early voting continues throughout this week, at the Scott Annex, 1403 Blackjack, from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. through Friday, then from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Sunday. All next week, the polls will be open from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Secretary of State Carlos Cascos reminds voters to take note of Texas’ Voter ID laws passed last year.

That law requires voters who possess an acceptable form of photo identification for voting are still required to present it in order to vote in person in all Texas elections. The acceptable form of photo identification may be expired up to four years. Voters who do not possess an acceptable form of photo identification and cannot obtain one of the forms of acceptable photo identification listed below due to a reasonable impediment, may present a supporting form of identification and execute a Reasonable Impediment Declaration, noting the voter’s reasonable impediment to obtaining an acceptable form of photo identification, and stating that the voter is the same person on the presented supporting form of identification.

Acceptable forms of ID include:

Texas driver license issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS

Texas personal identification card issued by DPS

Texas license to carry a handgun issued by DPS

United States military identification card containing the person’s photograph

United States citizenship certificate containing the person’s photograph United States passport.

Supporting Identification includes:

Valid voter registration certificate

Certified birth certificate (must be an original)

Copy of or original current utility bill

Copy of or original bank statement

Copy of or original government check

Copy of or original paycheck

Copy of or original government document with your name and an address (original required) if it contains a photograph)

After presenting a supporting form of ID, the voter must execute a Reasonable Impediment Declaration.