October 21, 2016 – Early voting begins Monday. Early voting in Hopkins County is at the Justice of the Peace Courtroom located in the County Tax office/JP building, 128 Jefferson Street. Enter the front door of the building and follow the signs to the voting area. Hours are 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day.
Sample ballots are now available on the Hopkins County website. Debbie Shirley, Hopkins County Clerk, says that when voting the voter should scroll through the entire ballot before pushing the red button that records the vote. Sample ballots include the general election for Hopkins County, City of Cumby’s city election, school board elections for Cumby, Miller Grove, and North Hopkins, and the Paris Junior College referendum. Como-Pickton and Saltillo school districts will not vote in the PJC referendum. They are members of the Northeast Texas Community College District. The specific sample ballot, there are now 39 ballot styles, to review is the voter precinct number on your voter registration card. Maps of precincts and voting boxes and specific voting dates and information concerning voter ID are also available on the website (found here).
Straight party voting will also allow one to crossover to vote for a specific candidate in another party. When a vote is cast for a crossover, the vote for the person on the straight party ticket will be removed. Also, she reminds to go all the way through the ballot to be sure to vote on all issues. A summary page at the end of the electronic ballot will allow the voter to review their votes and make any changes necessary.
When early voting begins Monday, the following Saturday, October 29th, the early voting place will be open 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. and on Sunday, October 31, one may vote early from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. Shirley promises that experienced workers will assist in making the early voting process a quick and easy experience.
Over 700 ballots have been mailed to voters who requested ballot-by-mail. Those wishing to vote by mail but have not signed up to do so have until October 28th to request a ballot. Those who may vote by mail include those over 65-years of age, or sick or disabled, or expect to be absent, or those confined in jail.
There is a write in for President and Vice President of the United States. If one desires to write in a name, there is a button to push will brings up a keyboard and you may type in the name. Only those names found on the approved list of write in names will be counted. Shirley said you may vote for Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck, but those votes will not be counted.
