Early voting turnout lags

The record-breaking early voting turnout from the 2018 midterm elections, which included county and local elections, has not carried over to the San Marcos City Council runoff races. Early voting began on Monday, and as of Thursday morning, Hays County Elections Administrator Jennifer Anderson said fewer than 500 people had voted.

“We’ve had 330 at the Government Center and 78 at Texas State for a total of 408 voters for the first few days,” Anderson said. 

As low as turnout has been, she said, it is typical for runoff elections.

Up for grabs in the runoff election are two seats on the city council: the unexpired Place 4 term, for which Shane Scott and Mark Rockeymoore are competing, and the Place 5 seat, for which Rick Henderson and Jocabed “Joca” Marquez are running. 

Early voting continues today at the Hays County Government Center from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and at the Texas State University LBJ Student Center temporary branch location from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. This is the last day for early voting at the Texas State temporary site. 

On Saturday, early voting will take place at the Government Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and at the Live Oak Clinic/Health Department at 401-A Broadway St. from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Next week, early voting hours will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 3-Dec. 6 at the Government Center and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 3-4 at the Live Oak Clinic. The last day of early voting will be Dec. 7, when voters can cast their ballots at the Government Center from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

More information about the election, including Election Day polling places, can be found at the county's website.