Voter registration deadline nears

Thursday, April 4 is the last day to register to vote or make a change of address effective for the May 4 local board elections. 

Voter registration applications can be found online at votetexas.gov, or filled out in person at the Tax Assessor-Collector office at the Shackelford County Courthouse.

Shackelford County voters who wish to vote by mail ballot for the Albany city council or the Albany ISD election can submit applications. However, the vote by mail applications for this election should not be sent to the courthouse.

Albany City voters will elect two city council members from among four candidates on Election Day. 

To request a mail-in ballot for this election, registered voters should contact Becky Wiloth at Albany City Hall, 425 South Second Street, PO Box 3248, Albany TX 76430.

The mayor’s post will also be on the ballot, but there is only one candidate for that position.

Residents of the Albany Independent School District will decide on trustees on May 4, with two of the three races contested.

To request a mail-in ballot for that election, registered voters should contact Morgan Whitley at Albany ISD, PO Box 2050, Albany TX 76430.

The vote by mail application can also be downloaded online at the Texas Secretary of State’s website, filled out, and faxed to 325-762-3849 for the Albany City Hall, or Albany ISD at 325-3876.

Voters are eligible to vote by mail if they will be away from the county on Election Day and during the hours that early voting is conducted, are sick or disabled, are 65 years of age or older on Election Day, or are confined in jail.

The last day to apply for a ballot by mail is April 23, and mail ballots must be received by election officials before the close of voting, 7:00 p.m. on May 4.

Early voting will take place from April 22-30.

Contested Races

The four candidates for the two two-year at-large positions available for the Albany city council are Dewey Knight, Ragan Riley, Don Taggart, and incumbent Carolyn Waller.

Incumbent Rodney Alexander is the sole candidate for Albany mayor.

There are three seats being elected for the Albany ISD board’s three-year terms.

Amanda Tabor and incumbent Kelly Head have both filed for the Place 5 position, while Joe Tidwell is unopposed for Place 6.

Mike Bean, Dinty Bowman, Clint Chapman, Stephen Kayga, and Kim Neece are running for Place 7. 

The Shackelford County Hospital District, Moran ISD, and City of Moran have all cancelled their elections because there are no opposed races.