Election deadline nears

Cameron County residents who want to vote in the March 1 primary elections but have not registered have one more week to do so.

The deadline to register is Feb. 1, which is Monday.

Remi Garza, election administrator for Cameron County’s Department of Elections and Voter Registration, encourages residents who have not yet registered to do so promptly and to also contact the elections office if they are unsure of their status.

“We can research any issues right away and resolve them so that they can cast their ballots without delays,” Garza said.

There are several ways people can access voter registration applications. They can find the applications on the county’s Department of Elections and Voter Registration website, the Texas Secretary of State website or actually visit the county’s Elections Department in person and fill out an application there.

Applications accessed from the county or state website may be printed out and either taken to the Election’s Department or mailed in.

The county’s Department of Elections and Voter Registration is located at 1050 E. Madison St. in Brownsville.

On his Facebook page, Texas Secretary of State Carlos H. Cascos is also reminding voters that the deadline to register to vote is approaching. He writes, “This is it. This is the last week to register to vote in time for the March 1 primary. Registration applications must be postmarked no later than Feb. 1.”

Registered voters in Cameron County will not only be casting ballots for a new president because there are several county seats up for election that would not normally be on the ballot this year. These include the Cameron County judge’s race and the race for Cameron County Commissioner Precinct 4.

In addition, two new Cameron County Court-at-law positions are on the ballot.

Garza encourages voters to take advantage of early voting, which begins on Feb. 16. In case there is a problem with precinct assignments officials will have the correct ballot on hand.

“If not, the voter might be asked to go to another polling location to cast the proper ballot. I would hate for a technicality to disenfranchise anybody when it can be avoided. We strive to have the most up-to-date information, but when people move or jurisdiction lines change, it can affect precinct assignment and voter registration status,” Garza said.

For more information on voter registration, contact the Cameron County’s Department of Elections and Voter Registration at 956-544-0809 or you can register or check your registration at http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/reqvr.shtml.