With less than a month away from Election Day Nov. 3, Texas’ early voting period kicked off Oct. 13, and is set to last until Friday, Oct. 30.
According to The Hill, a record number of Americans have partaken in early voting this year, with an estimate of over six million turn out. El Paso also shattered its own record for the first day of early voting with more than 18,000 votes cast along with more than 15,000 mail-in ballots, with the numbers consistently climbing.
Early voting at UTEP
A notable implementation introduced this year by the El Paso County Elections is the “Voting Center” program, which allows registered voters to cast their votes at any of the accessible voting center locations established throughout the city, UTEP being one of 35 early voting sites. A total of 150 locations will be accessible on Election Day. The new voting center program is broadening the way people cast their vote, as prior to this, voting sites were structured by designated precincts.
The program aims to alleviate some of the uncertainties surrounding voting during the COVID-19 pandemic such as concerns related to health and mail-in ballots. Some Texas citizens are not eligible for mail in voting, as they do not meet the state’s requirements, where an individual must be 65 years or older, out of county for the duration of the voting period, incarcerated, ill, or disabled.
Early voters at UTEP can visit Templeton Suite at the Union East Building Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. , and from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Other voting sites like Bassett Place and the Marty Robins Recreational Center, will be operating until 10 p.m. on the last week of early voting, to accommodate voters.
The UTEP Center for Community Engagement is also offering informative presentations for any department, class or organization at the University, with the goal of helping individuals navigate the election during the pandemic. Presentation requests may be directed to Sophia Andritsos, undergraduate assistant for the Center of Community Engagement, via email at [email protected].
Voting during the pandemic
Amid the pandemic, El Paso County Elections is making mask-wearing mandatory as well as social distancing, where there will be six-foot markers on the floor indicating appropriate separation range. A limited number of masks will also be available at sites, for people who arrive unprepared.
“Vote Safe El Paso” kits will be given to each voter, which includes a Q-Tip and protective finger cot to handle voting machines, hand wipes and the customary ‘I Voted’ sticker. Voters are also advised to wash their hands and use o hand sanitizer before and after voting. Additional staff is being allocated to sanitize the site routinely as well.
Those who do not wish to vote inside sites, have the option to use El Paso County Elections’ curbside service at every early voting site, by calling its office at 915-546-2154.
Polling locators and wait times ae available on El Paso County Elections’ mobile application and website . Arlington Park, Bassett Place, the El Paso County Coliseum, Marty Robins Recreation Center, Officer David Ortiz Recreation Center, Oz Glaze Senior Center, and Sunland Park Mall will have additional personnel on board dedicated to assisting in the express curbside voting process.
For more information regarding the 2020 election, visit https://epcountyvotes.com/. Election Day is on Nov. 3 from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Sasha Minjarez may be reached at [email protected]; @SashaM73092365 on Twitter.
Here are the candidates who are on the ballot for El Paso residents
Citywide
Mayor, City of El Paso
Calvin Zielsdorf / Occupation: Head Coach for two swim teams and owner a local PV system design/installation company
Oscar Leeser / Occupation: President, dealer and operator of Hyundai of El Paso, former El Paso mayor
Carlos Gallinar / Occupation: City planner and small business owner
Dean “Dino” Martinez / Occupation: Retired Department of Defense, Army 101st Airborne Division Ranger
Veronica “Vero” Carbajal / Occupation: Staff Attorney and Group Coordinator: Community Preservation and Empowerment, Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid Inc.
Dee Margo / Occupation: Current El Paso mayor running for re-election
Representative, City of El Paso, District 2
Miriam “Judy” Gutierrez / Occupation: Retired from 24 years of service in the city of El Paso
Alexsandra Annello / Occupation: Incumbent District 2 City Representative
James Arthur Campos / Occupation: Operations Director in Juarez, Mexico
Representative, City of El Paso, District 3
Jose Rodriguez / Occupation: Realtor of 30 years’ experience
Cassandra Hernandez / Occupation: District 3 City Representative
Will Veliz / Occupation: Realtor
Representative, City of El Paso, District 4
Dorothy “Sissy” M. Byrd / Occupation: Home Health Agency Insurance Specialist
Sam Morgan / Occupation: Incumbent District 4 City Representative
Joe Molinar / Occupation: Retired law enforcement professional of 28 years
Shawn Nixon / Occupation: No reliable information available.
Wesley Lawrence / Occupation: Student and community activist
Representative, City of El Paso, District 7
Aaron Montes / Occupation: Freelance writer, former El Paso Times reporter
Henry Rivera / Occupation: Incumbent District 7 City Representative
Judge, City of El Paso Municipal Court No. 1
Michelle P. Morales / Occupation: El Paso Municipal Court No. 1 Judge running for re-election
Judge, City of El Paso Municipal Court No. 2
Kristin R. Romero / Occupation: Assistant District Attorney for the City of El Paso, Captain in the U.S. Army Reserve serving as a Judge Advocate General
Maximino Daniel Muñoz / Occupation: El Paso Municipal Court No.2 Judge running for re-election
Judge, City of El Paso Municipal Court No. 3
David A. Bonilla / Occupation: El Paso Municipal Court No. 3 Judge running for re-election
Judge, City of El Paso Municipal Court No. 4
Lillian Elena Blancas
Enrique Alonso Holguin
Lauren K. Ferris
Judge, City of El Paso Municipal Court No. 5
Daniel “Danny” Robledo
Judge, City of El Paso Municipal Court of Appeals
Maria Ramirez
Rebecca Tarango
Odell S. Holmes
Statewide
United States Senator, Texas
John Cornyn (R)
Mary “MJ” Hegar (D)
Kerry Douglas McKennon (L)
David B. Collins (G)
Railroad Commissioner
James “Jim” Wright (R)
Chrysta Castañeda (D)
Matt Sterett (L)
Katija “Kat” Gruene (G)
Chief Justice, Supreme Court
Nathan Hecht (R)
Amy Clark Meachum (D)
Mark Ash (L)
Federal
U.S. President and Vice President
Donald J. Trump/ Michael R. Pence (R)
Joseph R. Biden/Kamala D. Harris (D)
Jo Jorgensen/Jeremy “Spike” Cohen (L)
Howie Hawkins/Angela Walker (G)
United States Representative, Texas’ 16th Congressional District
Irene Armendariz-Jackson (R)
Veronica Escobar (D)
United States Representative, Texas’ 23rd Congressional District
Tony Gonzales (R)
Gina Ortiz Jones (D)
Beto Villela (L)
