Voter registration cards mailed

By Kathy Thomson

New voter registration cards were mailed in December, and everyone who is registered to vote in Shackelford County should have received a 2020 voter registration card by the end of this week.

Those who are not registered to vote still have time. The last day to register to vote in the upcoming March 3 primary election is Monday, Feb. 3.

Shackelford County Tax Assessor Collector Chief Deputy Belinda Perez is also in charge of voter registration. 

“We did a mass mail out,” Perez said. “Everyone’s card that came back (to us) with a current forwarding address, we sent a letter and a (change of address) card.”

Perez added that they are unable to send mail to anyone who moved without submitting a forwarding address to the post office, or to those whose forwarding time has already expired.

“We are continuing to try and get the local list cleaned up,” said Perez. “We have been working hard, going through the entire registered voter file from A to Z so the upcoming elections will go smoothly.”

She added that the last election was uneventful.

“Last year’s election went well, with no complaints filed,” Perez said. “We want to have it go smoothly again, especially since we are expecting a heavy voter turnout with the presidential election and local elections this year. We want to have everything in order and get everyone registered to vote.”

Those who have received their new card should double check the information on the front of the card to make sure that their address and name are still correct. 

Perez is working to remove anyone on the local registration list who has moved out of the county or who is deceased. She is also trying to help everyone who has moved to get properly registered at their new residence.

Anyone eligible to vote in Shackelford County who has not received a current registration card should go to the courthouse before the registration deadline. 

“If you are registered, and all of your information is still correct, we’ll print you a new voter card,” Perez said. “If you have moved but are still in Shackelford County, we can look up your home on an aerial map to make sure we have you registered in the correct precinct.”

Some voters may have received duplicate voter registration cards.

The election official explained that happens when an already properly registered voter checks the voter registration box on their driver’s license application form.

“The Department of Motor Vehicles sends those to the Secretary of State, and we are required to send a voter registration card to them,” Perez said. “The reason it is done this way is to try and properly register everyone who is getting a new license because they have moved or had a name change. The system works really well, but if your information didn’t change, and you checked the box, you may get a duplicate voter registration card.”

Voter registration activity and questions about registering have picked up lately, she added.

“Part of the increase in activity is due to the upcoming presidential election,” Perez said. “We are also already getting a lot of calls with questions about the gold star on drivers licenses. Not having the gold star will not affect your ability to vote.”

The gold star emblem on a Texas driver’s license shows that the document is “Real ID compliant.”

The laws could be changed at some point in the future, but under current rules the gold star emblem will only be needed, beginning on Oct. 1, 2020, in order to pass through checkpoints in secure federal buildings or to go through airport security checkpoints. 

“If you have any questions about voter registration, come to the Courthouse and we’ll help you,” said Perez. “I’ll answer your questions, or I’ll call the Secretary of State to find out the answer. We are here to help you.”

Although Perez can answer questions by phone at 325-762-9420, any changes to a voter registration card must be done in writing.

Ballot by Mail

Jan. 1 was the first day that eligible citizens could apply for a ballot by mail for the March primaries. Friday, Feb. 21 is the last day for a ballot by mail application to be processed in time for the March election. 

The application form can be found at www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/forms/pol-sub/5-15f.pdf or can be obtained from the early voting clerk in Shackelford County, Cheri Hawkins, at the Shackelford County Courthouse. 

Those who are aged 65 or older and/or are disabled, by Texas law are allowed to mark “Annual Application” on the application for a ballot by mail to request ballots by mail for all county elections this year.

Completed application forms should be submitted, with proper postage, to Cheri Hawkins at P.O. Box 2109, Albany TX 76430.

Applications can also be submitted using a federal postcard application via email, which can be found at www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/county.shtml.

After the ballot arrives in the mail, voters must compete the ballot and mail it back. Voters should make sure that it will arrive at the county courthouse by Tuesday, March 3, 2020 (election day) before 7:00 p.m. so those votes will be counted.

According to the Texas government website, to be eligible to vote early using a mail-in ballot, voters must meet at least one of the following requirements:

•be 65 years or older;

•be disabled;

•be out of the county on election day and during the period for early voting by personal appearance; or

•be confined in jail, but otherwise eligible.

Early Voting

The first day of early voting for the upcoming primaries is Tuesday, Feb. 18. The last day of early voting is Friday, Feb. 28.

Early voting requirements are the same as the requirements for voting on election day.