The Hidalgo County Board of Commissioners a move to mail voting requests to citizens over the age of 65 at a special assembly on Tuesday.
Prior to their discussion, the Commissioners held a public forum where citizens expressed their opposition to requests for votes by mail.
The county election council for the Board of Commissioners to mail programs to all citizens over the age of 65.
Hidalgo County election manager Yvonne Ramon said it would be the first time the county would mail applications.
“No county has submitted requests,” Ramon said at the meeting, which was held practically with a county ruling on Richard F. Cortez, District 1 Commissioner David Fuentes, District 2 Commissioner Eddie Cantu, District Four Commissioner Ellie Torres, District Criminal District Deputy Deputy Attorney Josephine Ramirez-Solis and General Manager Valde Guerra.
“Because of the circumstances, and those are delicate and unique circumstances, there are other counties that did it for the first time. Hidalgo County has never done that,” Ramón added.
The movement crossed Cantú and supported Fuentes before his passage.
Before the vote, Ramón pressed wants to perceive that Tuesday’s discussion of applicants was sent to the electorate major or disabled and not on the ballots themselves.
“We’re talking about the mail-in voting request,” Ramon said. “We in the Elections Department are here to monitor and manage everything this court of commissioners decides. We are here to manage and do what you ask us to do, and we will stick and make it in the most productive way. our ability and that it is done well.
Hidalgo County has 384,198 registered voters, of whom 69,438 are elderly or older. 6,500 have already implemented it to vote by mail.
From one perspective, there were 44449 registered voters aged 65 and over in 2016, 173 of whom voted by mail.
The cost of mailing voting programs will cost the county approximately $40,000, which will be funded through the overall budget.
Ramon said that the electoral branch will continue to put in place preventive measures opposed to COVID-19 for all election and electorate staff presenting at polling stations.
“We’ll provide you with a mask and gloves,” Ramon said. “We have more non-public protective devices at hand, so any voter who comes to the polling station is there to serve you.”
The Elections Administrator indicated that the electorate using the ballots by mail may register them with the Election Service, located at 213 S. Closner Blvd. Edinburg.
He explained that unlike recent elections, the electorate would have to cast voting by mail as soon as they obtained them, unlike other occasions when they can only be overlooked on Election Day. However, the identity of the voter will be required when voting is presented.
He added that there are plans to designate parking spaces for others who wish to cast their votes by mail. She said there will also be sidewalk stops for others who might not be able to physically get out of their vehicles.
Another detail shared through Ramon is that there will be no singles party vote.
“Except through a non-public appearance at a polling station or if you request your vote by mail, this will now be voting by race,” Ramon said. “There will no longer be this option where it only meets your party selection, so be prepared.”
Anyone who chooses to vote by mail will be waiting for ballots to be mailed on Friday, September 18.
Ramon said the branch is still looking to send the ballots to the electorate forty-five days before Election Day. This year, the day falls on September 19, which is Saturday, but the ministry has made the decision to move the day to this Friday.
“This is the federal mandate, ” said Ramon. “On that date, the survey must have been sent to our military and any foreign electorate outside the United States. This is a key deadline for us.”
The last day to register to vote is Monday, October 5. Early voting will begin on Tuesday, October 13 and end on Friday, October 30. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3.