Williamson County sets Democratic primary runoff early voting election schedule

There are only three Democratic runoff races and no Republican races, Davis said. The races are for a congressional seat, railroad commissioner and a U.S. Senate race, he said.

On May 11, Gov. Greg Abbott moved the primary runoff date to July 14 after it was originally scheduled for May 26 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Abbott also extended the early voting period for the runoff election from one week to two weeks, Davis said.

The Williamson County Elections Department will be taking substantial measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in polling locations, Davis said, including hand-sanitizing units for all poll workers, regular cleanings of voting touch-screen devices with alcohol, and each check-in station and ballot marking device having a CleanPen unit to be used for sanitizing writing instruments and styli, Davis said.

Protective shields will also be provided at each check-in station, and poll workers are being asked to wear cloth face coverings. Each location will have a poll worker assigned to monitor and encourage social distancing, and each location will have social distance markers on the floor where voting is to occur, he said. Signage will be posted outside each polling location alerting voters to the option of voting curbside, Davis added.

In addition, prior to the start of voting, all poll workers will receive training on safety and sanitizing protocol in the polling place and will be instructed to thoroughly sanitize the equipment in the polling location before, during and after voting occurs each day, Davis said.

The department has been preapproved for a $500,000 grant to help with additional expenses due to the pandemic, county officials said.

“We intend to use these funds to make the polling place a safer and more secure environment during the pandemic,” Davis said.

The election department has also set up an emergency location if needed, Davis said.

Below is a map of each polling location.

In other news

• The Williamson County commissioners named June 15 as Elder Abuse Awareness Day in Williamson County. The Texas Adult Protective Services in-home caseworkers in Williamson County investigated 1,322 intakes, of which 731 cases were abuse, neglect and/or exploitation cases against the elderly or those with disabilities, in 2019, with 220 individuals being provided services beyond the investigation stage, the proclamation read.