Early voting period slated Oct. 18-29

RUSK – Early voting for a November election will be held Oct. 18-29, with three polling places open to all Cherokee County residents to cast their vote.

“At this time, voters can go to any of the three early voting locations,” said county Election Administrator Kandace Herring: The Cherokee County Election Department, 138 W. 5th St. in Rusk; the Jacksonville Public Library, located at 526 E. Commerce St. or The River Church, 595 Marcus St. in Alto.

Polls are open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23. The polls will not be open on Sunday, Oct. 24.

Registered voters throughout Texas will vote on eight amendments to the state constitution, while Alto ISD residents will decide upon ratifying a proposed $1.5319 tax rate for the 2021-22 school year. The district’s proposed rate is one cent less than last year’s rate.

Meanwhile, the Cherokeean Herald will publish a list of polling places in Cherokee County in late October for Election Day, Nov. 2.

“On Election Day, voters will need to go to the voting location for the precinct that they reside in,” Herring said, adding that whether they choose to cast a vote during the early voting period or on Election Day itself, “voters will need to bring one of the acceptable forms of ID.”

Earlier this year, the county rolled out new election equipment in May for use in city and school elections with great success, Herring said.

The Hart Verity Duo equipment consists of 27 controllers, 33 scanners and 75 Duos, and is considered a “ballot-marking devise” that allows voters to select choices from a touch screen.

After a ballot is cast, the machine provides the voter with a printed vote record so that he or she can verify choices made on the screen are what will be scanned and counted, ensuring “that there are no over-votes and that no accidently stray marks could cause the ballot to be disqualified,” she said.

“I hope for a easy transition to the new hybrid machines,” Herring said. “There will be trained poll workers at every polling location to assist voters.”