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Early voting begins Monday

WISE COUNTY



WELCOMING VOTERS — Wise County Elections Administrator Sabra Srader shows where voters will enter the new main early voting location in the back of the former Decatur Chamber of Commerce building in downtown Decatur. BRIAN KNOX/WCMESSENGER

WELCOMING VOTERS — Wise County Elections Administrator Sabra Srader shows where voters will enter the new main early voting location in the back of the former Decatur Chamber of Commerce building in downtown Decatur. BRIAN KNOX/WCMESSENGER

Your first chance to cast a vote in the March 1 primary arrives Monday.

The two-week early voting period runs Monday, Feb. 14 through Friday, Feb. 25.

This year will bring some changes to early voting, some through legislation and some through a busy calendar.

Because of the upcoming Wise County Swap Meet and Wise County Youth Fair, both at the Wise County Fairgrounds, the main early voting location has moved from the Women’s Building to the old Decatur Chamber of Commerce building on Main Street, next door to the new Wise County Court Center, in downtown Decatur.

While the address for the building is 308 W. Main St., parking and the entrance will be on the back (north) side of the building facing Walnut Street.

The other three early voting locations — Boyd Community Center at 420 E. Morton Ave., Alvord City Hall at 215 W. Elm and the Bridgeport Law Enforcement Center at 1000 Thompson St. — remain the same as previous years.

Due to Senate Bill 1 passed last year in the Texas Legislature, early voting days and hours have been extended.

NEW VOTING LOCATION — Parking and the entrance to the main early voting location in downtown Decatur will be at the back of the building, facing Walnut Street. Signs will be in place showing voters where to go beginning Monday.

NEW VOTING LOCATION — Parking and the entrance to the main early voting location in downtown Decatur will be at the back of the building, facing Walnut Street. Signs will be in place showing voters where to go beginning Monday.

Early voting is 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily Monday, Feb. 14 through Friday, Feb. 18; 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19; noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 20; and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily Tuesday, Feb. 22 to Friday, Feb. 25. The polls will be closed Monday, Feb. 21 due to the Presidents Day holiday.

Voters may vote at any early voting location, but if they wait until election day, they must vote in their voting precinct.

“There’s plenty of opportunities to vote early with the extended hours and the weekend. I hope everyone will take advantage of that,” Wise County Elections Administrator Sabra Srader said.

She pointed out that due to redistricting, a few voting precinct lines were redrawn, which could affect where you vote on Election Day.

“Your Election Day voting precinct may have changed, so we are encouraging early voting,” she said.

Several local contested races will be on the ballot, all on the Republican side.

BRIAN KNOX/WCMESSENGER

BRIAN KNOX/WCMESSENGER

County judge incumbent J.D. Clark is facing a challenge from Chad Miller.

Precinct 2 commissioner Kevin Burns drew a challenger in Zack McClary.

Three people are running for Precinct 4 commissioner: Cory Lane, Colby Shawn and Mike Richey. Incumbent Gaylord Kennedy did not seek reelection.

John Curry, Blanca Tuma, Raquie Gasperson and Walter Harvey are running for county clerk (See story on page 6A). Incumbent Sherrry Lemon did not seek reelection.

With Wise County Republican Party Chair Eric Marney not seeking reelection, Mark Ary and Mike Drury are running for the post.

For state office, Lynn Stucky of Denton and Andy Hopper of Decatur are facing off in House District 64.

In Senate District 12, Tan Parker of Flower Mound and Chris Russell of Dallas are running in the Republican primary.

On the federal level, Michael Burgess, Vince Gallo and Raven Harrison are seeking the Republican nomination in House District 26, which includes areas south of U.S. 380 in Wise County, with the exception of Bridgeport and Runaway Bay.

Other contested races on the Republican ballot include governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, comptroller, commissioner of the general land office, commissioner of agriculture, railroad commissioner, Place 9 justice on the supreme court, Place 5 judge on the court of criminal appeals and District 14 member on the state board of education.

The Republican ballot also includes 10 propositions asking voters for their opinion on issues including securing the border, elimination of property taxes, COVID- 19 vaccine mandates, Critical Race Theory, abortion, ending Democratic chairmanships in the state legislature, election integrity, sex transitions for children, school choice and affirming that freedoms come from God.

While there are no locally contested races on the Democratic ballot, a number of contested state-wide races must be decided, including governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, comptroller, commissioner of the general land office, commissioner of agriculture and Senate District 12.

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