Early voting for general election begins Oct. 13

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Early voting gets underway Tuesday, Oct. 13 for the Nov. 3 general election.

Wood County commissioners recently approved additional sites for early voting.

In addition to the elections office in Quitman, early votes may be cast at the First United Methodist Church ministries center in Mineola, the community center in Hawkins and The Depot in Winnsboro.

Topping the ballot is the presidential race.

Texas voters will also choose one United States senator.

Wood County voters have no locally contested races at the county level, but since the May elections were postponed, several cities and school districts will have their election on the same ballot.

There will be a write-in for Precinct 4 constable, and Chase Glover is the only declared write-in candidate

County voters will also choose a state senator and state representative as well as a congressman.

For Congress, Republican Lance Gooden is seeking a second term and faces Democrat Carolyn Salter and Libertarian Kevin A. Hale.

For state senate, Bryan Hughes is the Republican incumbent and faces Democrat Audrey Spanko.

For state representative, Republican Cole Hefner is seeking a second term and faces Democrat Lawyanda Prince.

For state board of education, Republican Kevin M. Ellis faces Democrat Brenda Davis.

For Mineola School Board, four candidates are seeking two positions: Silvia M. Reyes, Jeff D. Hurley, Rodney Watkins and John Abbott.

Four candidates are seeking two Quitman School Board seats: Jane Herring, Vanessa Von Reyn Simpkins, Raymond Peek and Dustin Emerson.

Yantis ISD has four candidates for two positions: Jennifer Larkin, Teresa Starrett, Jennifer McKeever and Melissa Stephens.

Seven candidates are in the running for three Alba-Golden School Board posts: Randall Cole, Dana Weissert, Jason Stovall, Sancy Baker, Lisa Morrison, Brad Lennon and Johnny Teel.

Grant Sadler is unopposed for the unexpired term.

For Hawkins ISD, Jay Ryan Wilson, Micheline Gipson and Janice M. Vonner are seeking two seats.

For the Quitman city council, three positions are up, with four candidates: Steven Glenn, Jack Robinson, J.R. Evans and Susan Resnik.

For the Hawkins City Council, Cody Jorgenson and Steven Myers are seeking one spot.

In Winnsboro, Jim Hollowell, Randy Parrish, David Corning and Michael Jaynes are seeking three city council posts.

Early voting runs through Oct. 30 and will be conducted Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., and during the week of Oct. 26-29 citizens may vote from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. 

Those wishing to vote by mail have until Oct. 23 to request an application. To qualify for mail-in ballot, voters must be 65 years of age or older, disabled or be out of the county during the election. 

For this election only, voters can bring their mail-in ballot to the elections office; however, they must show identification and sign a document relinquishing their ballot to election officials to put in the required locked ballot box.

Election Day voting will be held from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. at the various precinct locations. All voting information may be found on the Wood County elections website or if anyone has questions, call the Wood County elections office at 903-763-2400.