everything you need to know to prepare to vote in November

 

Election Day will be Tuesday, November 5, 2024.

Registering to Vote

For those not yet registered to vote, the last day to register in time to vote in this election is Monday, October 7, 2024.

This is also the last date to change your address in time to vote in the November election.

In order to vote in elections, the following qualifications must be met:

— You must register to vote in the county in which you reside.

–You must be a citizen of the United States.

–You must be at least 17 years and 10 months old to register, and you must be 18 years of age by Election Day.

–You must not be finally convicted of a felony, or if you are a felon, you must have completed all of your punishment, including any term of incarceration, parole, supervision, period of probation, or you must have received a pardon.

–You must not have been determined by a final judgement of a court exercising probate jurisdiction to be totally mentally incapacitated or partially mentally incapacitated without the right to vote.

Texas residents may check to see if they are registered and begin the registration process online at votetexas.gov.

You can complete an application online or request a printed application be sent to you.

Once the voter registration application is completed, it must then be signed.

Note: giving false information to procure a voter registration is considered perjury, and a crime under state and federal law. Conviction of this crime may result in imprisonment up to one year in jail, a fine up to $4,000, or both.

Finally, either mail or hand deliver the application to your local voter registrar. In Freestone County, that would be Freestone County Election Administrator Renee McBay, whose office is located at 444 E. Main Street in Fairfield, Texas 75840 (P.O. Box 1150 for mailing purposes).

All voters who register to vote in Texas must provide a Texas driver’s license number of personal identification number issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety.

If you don’t have such a number, simply provide the last four digits of your social security number. If you don’t have a social security number, applicants must state that fact.

Your voter registration will become effective 30 days after it is received, or on your 18th birthday, whichever is later. Your registration must be effective on or before election day in order to vote in that election.

If you move to another county, you must re-register in the county of your new residence.

For more information about registering to vote, contact the Freestone County Elections office at 903-389-0469, ext. 318 or via email to elections.clerk@co.freestone.tx.us

Early Voting

Early voting in person will begin October 21 and continue thru November 1, 2024

Stay tuned for specific dates, times and locations once the official Notice of Election has been posted.

Voting by Mail

For those eligible to cast their ballots by mail, applications requesting a ballot by mail must be received by the Freestone County Elections Administrator no later than the close of business on October 25, 2024.

Applications are to be sent to Renee McBay, Election Administrator, PO Box 1150, Fairfield, Texas 75840.

Allowable reasons to vote by mail in Texas include the following:

–65 years of age or older.

–Disability, as defined in Texas Election Code 82.002(a) that would prevent a voter from appearing at the polling place on Election Day without a likelihood of needing assistance or of injuring their health.

–Expected to give birth within three weeks before or after Election Day.

–Expected Absence from the County.

–Confirmed in Jail or Involuntary Civil Commitment.

Absentee Ballot by Mail must be applied for annually.

Election Day

On Election Day, November 5, 2024, registered voters must cast their ballots at the location assigned to their voting precinct.

There will be 13 polling locations on Election Day:

–Fairfield Civic Center (Green Barn): Pct. #1 – Fairfield

–Donie Community Center: Pct. #3 – Donie

–First Baptist Church, Teague: Pct. # 5 – Teague

–Freestone Community Center: Pct. #10 – Freestone

–Fairfield Chamber of Commerce: Pct. #2 – Fairfield

–Butler Community Center: Pct. #11 – Butler

–Dew School Library: Pct. #13 – Dew

–Cotton Gin Voting Bldg.: Pct. #4 – Cotton Gin

–Kirvin Baptist Church: Pct. #6 – Kirvin

–Wortham Community Center: Pct. #7 – Wortham

–Southern Oaks Clubhouse: Pct. #8 – St. Elmo

–Church of Christ, Teague: Pct. #9 – Teague

–Streetman City Hall: Pct. #15 – Streetman