Hidalgo County names interim elections administrator

Hilda Salinas was named the Hidalgo County interim elections administrator on Wednesday in Edinburg.

Hidalgo County commissioners appointed an interim elections administrator on Tuesday following the retirement of Yvonne Ramon.

The Hidalgo County Commissioners Court named Hilda Salinas as interim elections administrator during its regularly called meeting on Tuesday.

Ramon announced her retirement Aug. 29 after 14 years on the job. Her last day was Sept. 9.

Salinas has served the county’s elections department as its assistant director, as well as an elections analyst.

She began her career with the county in 2013 with the Public Affairs Division as a public information specialist. After three years, she transferred to the Elections Department, where she has continued to serve to this day.

With midterm elections inching closer, Salinas said she feels very confident in her new role given her experience with the department.

“I’ve been involved pretty much with the entire preparation and organization and administration of elections from the beginning all the way to the end,” Salinas said.

The interim elections administrator said voters should feel confident in the county’s elections process — a feeling that she intends to maintain throughout her tenure as the elections administrator.

“This is what we do,” Salinas said. “We follow the law, we follow the Texas Elections Code to the T. That’s how our elections are administered. We are very transparent. If they have any concerns of any sort, we encourage them to give us a call.”

Salinas encouraged county voters to visit the Hidalgo County Elections Department website where any and all information pertaining to the upcoming election can be found, including updates or changes made by the Texas legislation to voting procedures.

“We’re here to inform and to educate,” Salinas said. “We encourage our voters to be informed voters before they head out to the polling locations and cast their ballots.”

Voters can find more information about the upcoming elections by visiting www.hidalgocounty.us/Elections, or by calling the department’s office at (956) 318-2570.

The last day to register to vote for the upcoming election is Oct. 11. Early voting will run from Oct. 24 through Nov. 4. Election Day is set for Nov. 8.