March primaries are right around the corner and the last day to register to vote in the primaries is Monday, Feb. 3.
Registering to Vote:
Texans can check to see if they are already registered to vote by visiting the Texas Secretary of State's website . Eligible Texans living in Hays County who are not already registered to vote must complete a voter registration application and submit it to the Hays County Voter Registrar, at 712 South Stagecoach Trail, Ste. 1012 San Marcos, Texas 78666-5999, no later than Feb. 3.
Voter registration applications can be requested through the mail or picked up at the county voter registrar’s offices, post offices, government offices or high schools. While Texans can’t register to vote online, they can fill out and print an application from the Texas Secretary of States’ website, webservices.sos.state. tx.us/vrapp/index.asp, and mail it to the voter registrar. Applications must be postmarked by Feb. 3.
Monday is also the deadline for voters to change the address on their voter registration in order to vote in the primaries on March 3. Voters who move to a new county must re-register in their new county. But voters who move within the same county can notify their voter registrar of their change of address online at the Secretary of State’s Voter Registration Change website or by mail. A new certificate with a new address should arrive in the mail approximately 30 days after the change has been submitted.
The Hays County League of Women Voters will be out at the San Marcos Public Library, 625 E. Hopkins St., from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. on Feb. 3 helping voters register to vote.
What’s on the Ballot:
Federal:
- President – President Donald J. Trump faces six Republican challengers, including former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld and former Illinois congressman Joe Walsh. On the Democratic side, there are still 14 people who filed in the Texas primary and haven’t dropped out. Among the major contenders are former Vice President Joe Biden, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar and businessmen Mike Bloomberg, Tom Steyer and Andrew Yang.
- U.S. Senator – On the Republican side, incumbent John Cornyn faces four challengers including Virgil Bierschwale, John Anthony Castro, Dwayne Stovall and Mark Yancey.
- Democrats will be sorting out 12 candidates, including former congressional candidate MJ Hegar, state Sen. Royce West of Dallas, Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez, Amanda Edwards, Chris Bell and Sema Hernandez.
- U.S. Representative District 21 - On the Republican side, incumbent Chip Roy has no challengers. On the Democratic side are challengers Wendy Davis and Jennie Lou Leeder.
- U.S. Representative District 25 - On the Republican side, incumbent Roger Williams faces Republican challenger Keith Neuendorff. On the Democratic side are challengers Julie Oliver and Heidi Sloan.
- U.S. Representative District 35 – On the Democratic side, incumbent Lloyd Doggett faces one challenger Rafael Alcoser III. On the Republican side are challengers “Guillermo” William Hayward, Jenny Garcia Sharon and Nick Moutos.
State:
- Texas Railroad Commissioner - On the Republican, incumbent Ryan Sitton faces only one challenger James “Jim” Wright. On the Democratic side, there are four candidates including Chrysta Castaneda, Mark Watson, Roberto R. “Beto” Alonzo and San Marcos’ own Kelly Stone.
- Chief Justice, Supreme Court of Texas - Incumbent Nathan Hecht faces no challengers on the Republican side. On the Democratic side to contenders, Amy Clark Meachum and Jerry Zimmerer, are vying for the primary.
- Justice, Supreme Court of Texas, Place 7 - Incumbent Jeffrey S. Boyd faces no challengers on the Republican side. On the Democratic side to contenders, Brandy Voss and Staci Williams, are vying for the primary.
- Justice, Supreme Court of Texas, Place 8 - Incumbent Brett Busby faces no challengers on the Republican side. On the Democratic side to contenders, Peter Kelly and Gisela D. Triana, are vying for the primary.
- Texas Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 3 - On the Republican side, incumbent Bert Richardson faces one challenger Gina Parker. On the Democratic side to contenders, Elizabeth Davis Frizell, Dan Wood and William Pieratt Demond, are vying for the primary.
- Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 4 - Incumbent Kevin Patrick Yeary faces no challengers on the Republican side. On the Democratic side to contenders, Tina Clinton and Steven Miears, are vying for the primary.
- Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 9 - Incumbent David Newell is running unopposed on the Republican side and Brandon Birmingham is running unopposed on the Democratic side.
- Chief Justice, 3rd Court of Appeals - Incumbent Jeff Rose is running unopposed on the Republican side and Darlene Byrne and Keith S. Hampton are vying for the Democratic primary.
- State Board of Education, District 5 - Democratic primary candidates include Rebecca Bell-Metereau and Letti Bresnahan. Republican primary candidates include Inga Cotton, Robert Morrow and Lani Popp.
- State Senator, District 21 - Incumbent Judith Zaffirini is running unopposed on the Democratic side and Frank Pomeroy is running unopposed on the Republican side.
- State Representative, District 45 - On the Democratic side, incumbent Erin Zwiener faces only one challenger Liliana Posada. On the Republican side, there are three challengers Carrie Isaac, Austin Talley and Kent "Bud" Wymore.
Local:
- Judge, County Court-at-Law No. 3 – On the Republican side, incumbent Tacie Zelhart is running uncontested. Democratic candidates Millie Thompson and Tony Fusco are vying for the primary.
- Hays County Sheriff – On the Republican side, incumbent Gary Cutler faces Dave Graham. On the Democratic side, Dickey Haverda and Alex Villalobos are vying for the primary.
- Hays County Tax Assessor-Collector – On the Republican side, incumbent Jenifer O’Kane, is running uncontested. On the Democratic side, Daphne Tenorio is running uncontested.
- Hays County Commissioner Precinct 1- Incumbent Democrat Debbie Gonzales Ingalsbe is running uncontested
- Hays County Commissioner Precinct 3 – Incumbent Lon A. Shell is running uncontested on the Republican side and Lisa Prewitt is running uncontested on the Democratic side.
- Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, Place 1 – Incumbent Democrat Joanne Prado is running uncontested.
- Hays County Constable, Precinct 1 – Incumbent David Peterson faces Democratic challenger Cody Cheatham. On the Republican side, Eliseo Galarza is running uncontested.
- Hays County Constable, Precinct 2 - On the Democratic side, Incumbent Michael Torres is running uncontested. On the Republican side, Steve Avalos, is running uncontested.
- Hays County Constable, Precinct 3 – Incumbent Republican Ray Helm faces one challenger Jessica R. Deatherage.
- Hays County Constable, Precinct 4 – Incumbent Republican Ron E. Hood is running uncontested.
- Hays County Constable, Precinct 5 – Incumbent Republican John Ellen is running uncontested.
Early voting for the Primaries will be held Feb. 18-28. Election day will be Tuesday, March 3.