Hopkins County Commissioners Court Calls For Nov. 2 Constitutional Election, Voting Center Relocation
Texas voters, including those residing in Hopkins County, will be asked Nov. 2 to consider proposals which would amend the state Constitution. Cumby voters could also be asked to vote for their choices for three places on Cumby City Council on Nov. 2, 2021.
Cumby City Council Election
Filing for Cumby City Council opened on July 17 and will conclude at 5 p.m. today (Aug. 16) for Place 3, Place 4 and Place 5. These are for regular two-year term seats on the council. Those interested in serving on the Cumby City Council must get their completed applications filed at the City of Cumby Municipal Building, 100 East Main St.,today. Betty Jo Hardman, city secretary, is serving as as filing election officer.
Serving in the seats whose terms expire in November 2021 have been Wayne Mobley, Place 3; Betty McCarter, Place 4; and Ryan Horne, Place 5.
Constitutional Amendments
Hopkins County Commissioners Court on Friday, called for an election of Nov. 2, 2021. The Constitutional Amendments Election and Cumby City Council are the only 2 elections that County Clerk Tracy Smith, who also serves as the county’s election administrator, is aware of that will be on Hopkins County ballots.
“We have to go ahead and set that election,” County Judge Robert Newsom said. “A lot of people don’t know this but Hopkins County Court actually sets the election or we don’t have an election. I’m always amazed. We have a lot of responsibilities here in Hopkins County, to make sure everything works. The first thing I want to present to you is a change of location for Precinct 2A voting center.”
The Commissioners Court agreed for voting for Box 2A to be moved from Morning Chapel Missionary Baptist Church to the newly constructed HW Grays Building, located at 413 Beckham Street in Pacific Park.
Newsom said he contacted Harold Nash, pastor of Morning Chapel MBC who as also a Sulphur Springs City Council member about the voting center relocation, as well as Sulphur Springs City Manager Marc Maxwell to ensure the building would be available and could be reserved for the national election, and potentially to serve as a voting center in future elections as well if things go well as the location. The proposal was made after Newsom received affirmation from both Nash and Maxwell for the move.
All of the other voting centers will remain the same as in the past for the Nov. 2, 2021, Constitutional Amendment Election, according to Newsom.
Early voting this year will be conducted in the Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Courtroom in the Courthouse Annex on Jefferson Street. Newsom noted that The ROC, where early voting has been conducted the last couple of elections, would not be available for use this year during the election.
Work is planned to officially separate the County Tax Assessor/Collector and Justices of the Peace Offices, so that no one will be standing in the hallway in front of the tax assessor’s office. The modification will provide one opening straight into the courtroom, Newsom noted. Work is expected to begin on the project this week. However, that will depend on whether the glass needed arrives on schedule.
“We all know with COVID we’ve had some delays, but we don’t want to start that over there until we have the product in,” Precinct 4 Commissioner Joe Price noted.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott also issued a proclamation at 12:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 13, 2021, ordering a general election to be held throughout the State of Texas on November 2,2021, for eight constitutional amendments.
Click here to view the proposed amendments to the Constitution.
For more information and resources for voting in Texas, visit VoteTexas.gov.
Tira City Council
According to Jan Vaughn, City Secretary, Declarations for Write-In Candidacy for a place on the Tira City Council will be accepted through 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 20, 2021. For more information contact Jan Vaughn, Tira City Secretary, at 903-438-6688.
North Hopkins ISD
Sign-up forms for the November North Hopkins ISD Board of Trustees’ elections are available in both the Administration building and the Secondary School offices. Forms for this election are also due by the close of business today (August 16, 2021). Filing is for two board members to serve three-year intervals.
