Hays County Commissioners on Tuesday adopted dates and locations for early voting in the March 3 Democratic and Republican primary elections with a couple of changes from the locations voters used in November 2019.
Early voting will begin on Tuesday, Feb. 18 and run through Friday, Feb. 21, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Voting hours on Saturday, Feb. 22 are 7 am. To 7 p.m.; on Sunday, Feb. 23 from 1 to 6 p.m. and from Monday, Feb. 24 through Friday, Feb. 28, from 7 a.m. to 7 pm.
Voters can choose any location countywide for early voting s well as for voting from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 3.
Locations in Kyle include the ACC Campus Hays at 1200 Kohler’s Crossing, Hays CISD Administration Office at 21003 Interstate 35; and Kyle City Hall, 100 West Center Street. Chapa Middle School was originally on the list but Elections Administrator Jennifer Anderson said the Hays CISD has asked that the school not be used. “The only place they have to vote is the library,” she said. Using it, she added, would “mean shutting the library down for two weeks.”
Pct. 2 Commissioner Mark Jones noted that because McCormick Middle School, just down the street from Chapa, is an early voting location “I don’t think it’s going to be a huge inconvenience (to not have Chapa) especially sine we can vote anywhere even on election day.”
It’s possible that the building on Yarrington Road the houses Development Services, Transportation and Emergency Serves could be substituted for Chapa Middle School.
In addition to McCormick, 5700 Dacy Lane, Buda voters can cast their ballots early at City Hall, 405 E. Loop Street.
In Wimberley there are two locations: the Wimberley Community Center at 14068 Ranch Road 12, and the Wimberley ISD Building at 951n FM 2325. Anderson said the Cypress Springs Church has declined to host early voting but will be an active polling place in November.
Dripping Springs and Driftwood voters can vote early at the Hays County Pct. 4 office at 195 Roger Hanks Voters can also use Ledgestone Senior Living, 13152 Four Star Boulevard, Austin.
Concerning Pct. 4, Commissioner Walt Smith said he hopes the Citizen Advisory Council “will look at additional locations in my precinct for the November election.” He said using the Pct. 4 Justice of the Peace office hampers its operation and delays justice. “It’s the most used polling place in Dripping Springs; the problem is if you’re looking for justice you’re going to have to wait. It’s a concern, so I wanted to bring it up.”
There are also several location in San Marcos including the Hays County Justice Center on South Stagecoach Road.
Smith noted that primary polling locations have generally been agree on by both Democrats and Republicans. “We’re fortunate in our county, the parties actually work together pretty well. I commend the Democratic and Republican Party charts for bringing us a list of locations acceptable to both of them.”
