Early voting starts Oct. 13

Early voting gets a head start on Oct. 13, with an extra week’s extension made due to safety concerns regarding COVID-19. Safety measures taken by the Gonzales County Clerk’s Office include the use of paper straws as a stylus to cast ballots on voting machines, sneeze guards, hand sanitizer, and gloves.

From Tuesday, Oct. 13 to Friday, Oct. 30, voters may cast their ballot early from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. at one of three polling locations:

• Randle-Rather Building- EV Election Room, 427 St. George Street, Gonzales
• City Hall Nixon- EV Election Room, 100 W 3rd St, Nixon
• City Hall Waelder- EV Election Room, 300 Hwy 90 W, Waelder

Those who would prefer to vote curbside may do so at the Randle-Rather building. The County Clerk’s Office has acquired carts via grant funding to allow for easier curbside voting. This method of voting is recommended for those who have or who have reason to believe they have COVID-19, but is generally recommended for voters who cannot enter the polling place without assistance or are likely to risk their health in doing so. To vote curbside, call the County Clerk’s Office at 830-672-2801.

On Election Day, Nov. 3, each precinct will report as follows:

• 1: Randle-Rather Building- Election Room, 427 St. George Street, Gonzales
• 2: Master Gardner's Building- Election Room, 623 N Fair St., Gonzales
• 3: City Hall Gonzales- Election Room, 820 St. Joseph Street, Gonzales
• 4 and 6: City Hall Nixon- Election Room, 100 W. 3^rdStreet, Nixon
• 5: Belmont Community Center- Election Room, 14335 HWY 90A W, Belmont
• 7: Elks Hospital- Election Room, 1963 FM 1586         
• 8: Harwood Community Center- Election Room, 101 CR 230 N              
• 9: Waelder Community Center—Election Room, 311 Hwy 90 W
• 10: Smiley Fire Station- Election Room, 208 N FM 108
• 11: Peach Valley Camp- Election Room, 582 CR 357
• 12: JB Wells JR Park Multi- Election Room, 2301 CR 197
• 13: Leesville Methodist Church- Election Room, 6077 CR 155
• 14: Cheapside Community Center- Election Room, 18 CR 297A                             
• 15: GVTC Co-op Building- Election Room, 67 FM 466 S, Cost, TX 78614

Mail-in or absentee ballots are still available by request until Oct. 26. In Texas, these ballots are reserved for those who meet certain criteria:

• being away from your county on Election Day and during the hours that early voting is conducted;
• being sick or disabled;
• being 65 years of age or older on Election Day; or
• being confined in jail.

To drop off an absentee ballot in person, it must be taken to the County Clerk's Office on the second floor of the Randle-Rather building in Gonzales. Voters may only turn in their own ballots and a have a valid form of I.D.