Tuesday, March 9, 2004

The 2004 Election Cycle is fast approaching. Candidates and political parties are planning the coming series of elections. Here are some of the basic parts of the process which will help local candidates in filing for office.

The Texas Election Code contains laws related to the election process. All candidates, parties, election offices and counties must adhere to the requirements of the code.

The first election is the primary election. All candidates for county, district and state offices who wish to be affiliated with either the Republican or Democrat Parties must participate in the Primary Election. Candidates of other parties should check with the state office for additional information. Independent candidates should request further information from the Elections Office or the Secretary of State's Election Division.

Filing Information

There are actually two primaries being held in Victoria County. They are the Republican Party Primary and the Democratic Party Primary. Victoria County has been conducting these primaries as a joint election for the last few election cycles. The advantages to conducting a joint election is lower overall costs, one polling location for each precinct, less duplication of efforts by judges and clerks, uniform access to the election by voters.

Offices up for election in 2004 are;

Federal President U.S. Representative, District 14	State Railroad Commissioner Justice, Supreme Court Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals
District State Board of Education, District 2 State Representative, District 30 Justice, Court of Appeals, District 13 District Judge, 24th Judicial District District Judge, 135th Judicial District	County Sheriff Tax Assessor/Collector County Commissioner, Precinct No. 1 County Commissioner, Precinct No. 3 Constable, Precinct No. 1 Constable, Precinct No. 2 Constable, Precinct No. 3 Constable, Precinct No. 4

Early Voting in Person for the Primary will be held beginning Monday, February 23, 2004. The Elections Office is the Main Early Voting Site. Early Voting will be held on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Early voting in Person will end on Friday, March 5, 2004.

Early Voting by Mail applications may be accepted as of January 9, 2004. Applications will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on March 1, 2004 for the Primary Election.

For additional information Special Voting