It is too early to tell how Gov. Greg Abbott's proclamation the afternoon of March 18 will affect the Bay Area's local elections this May, but entities have early ideas how the voting season will shake out.
Gov. Greg Abbott issued a proclamation March 18 to allow political subdivisions to postpone their May 2020 local elections. This means local governments now have the ability to postpone their May 2 elections until the general election day on Nov. 3, according to a news release from Abbott’s office.
Bay Area residents have the following elections this May: two Clear Creek ISD board of trustees seats, three Clear Lake Shores City Council positions and Nassau Bay mayor.
Brent Spier, Clear Lake Shores city administrator, said the city would likely not move its elections to November, though no decision has been made yet.
“I don’t know if there’s really any advantage to pushing it back six months for us. We’re so small," he said. "We’ll certainly investigate it.”
Spier said there are council members looking forward to giving up their seats after years of service and others eager to come on. Spier will bring up the idea of postponing the election to the council, but it is too early to tell what might happen, he said.
"The whole situation's so fluid," Spier said.
Likewise, Elaina Polsen, chief communications officer for CCISD, said there are not any changes to the election calendar as of now, though that, too, could change.
However, Nassau Bay officials said there is a "strong possibility" the city will postpone its elections to November. The staff and city council will discuss the potential move.
