Election Notes

Provided by the Elections Office
For more information Call 576-0124
or visit us at 111 N. Glass, Victoria, Texas

Where to Vote

Voting in this country has not always been held in the same places or the same manner we use today. Over the last two hundred years casting your ballot has changed from being a public spectacle to being able to vote privately and in secret.

When this country was young, voting took place at the town meeting hall. Outside would be candidates or their supporters helping voters decide by plying them with gifts. Often these gifts took the form of alcoholic spirits and as the day progressed, the raucousness of the voting increased. Men would make their way through inebriated brethren and announce their choice to the election judge. Please note that only men who were landowners were allowed to vote during this time. This was less than 100 years ago.

Now we have established Election Day Precinct Polling Places. A specific building within the boundaries of an election precinct is designated as a polling location. These are often public buildings but they can be churches or private residences. In Victoria we are very lucky that usually the same location is used for all of our elections. This lessens the confusion for some voters. Remember though that the nearest precinct polling location may not be the polling location within your election precinct.

The polling place serves only the voters who reside within the election precinct boundaries. As such, the voters who come into the polling location are most likely your neighbors. They have found their precinct polling location to vote for the candidates of their choice. The individuals who are working in the polling location are also residents of the election precinct. During the day they assist individuals who wish to participate in the voting process.

In addition to the polling places in each precinct for Election Day voting Texas allows early voting both in person and by mail. Early Voting in Person is held at the Main Early Voting Polling Place located at 111 N. Glass. This is the Elections Office for Victoria County . Typically early voting in person begins 17 days before Election Day and continues until 4 days before Election Day.

Early Voting by Mail begins with an application to vote by mail delivered to the Early Voting Clerk no sooner than 60 days before an election. Beginning 45 days before the election ballots are mailed to qualified voters. The ballots must be returned to the Early Voting Clerk no later than 7:00 p.m on Election Day. So in essence these voters can vote from almost anywhere. Students can vote while they are away at college. Military personnel and their spouses can vote from their bases in the U.S. or overseas. Anyone who is overseas can also vote by mail.

To obtain an application, call the Elections Office at 576-0124 or visit us at 111 N. Glass in Victoria . You can also e-mail your request for an application to elections@victoriacountytx.org.