Election Day is this Tuesday. Hays County runs elections in Buda, Kyle and San Marcos. Government entities within the county choose to contract with the county during each election to use its staff, equipment and resources. Administrators test the voting system three times: once before sending out mail ballots, once on election night at 6:30 p.m. and once after election tabulation on election night. Election workers arrive at the polling place at 6 a.m. on Election Day and must remain until the polls are closed and results are tabulated at the Hays County Government Center, the county’s main election site. Once the polls close, the voting equipment will be shut down and sealed, and all the ballots, including mail-in ballots, will be tallied. Soon after polls close at 7 p.m., preliminary voting totals are reported on the Hays County website and to the Texas Secretary of State’s office. Residents interested in becoming poll workers can call the Hays County elections office at 512-393-7310 or fill out the poll worker application form at www.co.hays.tx.us.