As early voting for the 2024 general election begins next week, here are a few things voters should know.

During the early voting period, voters may cast a ballot at any location in their county of registration.

For Freestone County, Early Voting will be held at two locations.

–Fairfield Conference Center (839 E. Commerce in Fairfield) October 21-25 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and October 28 – November 1 from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

–Teague City Hall (105 S. 4th Ave. in Teague) October 21-25 and October 28 – November 1 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Depending on where they live, some Freestone County residents will have special school district elections on their ballots.

Oakwood ISD is calling for the approval of the ad valorem tax rate because the adopted rate exceeds the RISD Voter-Approval Tax Rate (VATR). Ratifying the ad valorem tax rate of $0.6969 in Oakwood ISD for the current year, a rate that will result in an increase of 7.09 percent in maintenance and operations tax revenue for the district for the current year as compared to the preceding year, which is an additional $113,57.00.

Early voting in person will be October 21 through November 1 at either Annex II, located at 115 North Cass, 3rd Floor in Centerville, or at Buffalo City Hall Convention Center, located at 812 North Buffalo Avenue in Buffalo. Hours for voting will be 10/21 to 10/25 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., 10/26 from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., 10/27 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and 10/28 to 11/01 from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Buffalo ISD is calling for voter-approval bond election for the issuance of $46,500,000 of bonds for the construction, renovation, improvement, acquisition, and equipment of school buildings in the district, including necessary sites, and the levying of a tax sufficient, without limit as to rate or amount, to pay the principal of and interest of the bonds and to pay the costs of any credit agreements executed or authorized in anticipation of, in relation to, or in connection with the bonds; this is a property tax increase. (Passed and Approved by the Board of Trustees of the Buffalo ISD on August 5, 2024.)

To view a sample ballots online, visit  www.co.freestone.tx.us/page/Freestone.Elections

Click here for the official ‘Notice of the General Election’ with all the details, including dates, times and locations. PLEASE NOTE that polls will be open 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Election Day ONLY.

On Election Day, only voters registered in a county that participates in the Countywide Polling Place Program (CWPP) can cast a ballot at any location in the county. In counties that do not participate in the CWPP, Texas voters must cast a ballot in their precinct of registration on Election Day.

Voters can check their registration status and view additional voting information online through the Texas Secretary of State’s ‘Am I Registered?’ tool. Voters may also contact their respective county elections offices directly for more information about their ballot and appropriate polling location.

Eligible Texas voters who possess one of the seven approved forms of photo ID must present that ID at the polls. Voters who do not possess and cannot reasonably obtain one of the seven forms of approved photo ID can fill out a Reasonable Impediment Declaration (PDF) form, which is available at each polling location, and provide a supporting form of identification. Certain voters may qualify for certain exemptions to presenting an acceptable form of photo identification or following the Reasonable Impediment Declaration (PDF) procedure.

The seven forms of approved photo ID are:

–Texas Driver License issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)**;

–Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS;

–Texas Personal Identification Card issued by DPS;

–Texas Handgun License issued by DPS;

–United States Military Identification Card containing the person’s photograph;

–United States Citizenship Certificate containing the person’s photograph; and

–United States Passport (book or card)

With the exception of the U.S. Citizenship Certificate, which does not expire, the acceptable photo ID must be current or, for voters aged 18-69, have expired no more than four years before being presented for voter qualification at the polling place. A voter 70 years of age or older may use a form of acceptable photo ID listed above that has expired for any length of time if the identification is otherwise valid.

If a voter does not possess one of the forms of acceptable photo identification listed above, and the voter cannot reasonably obtain such identification, the voter may fill out a Reasonable Impediment Declaration form (PDF), which will be available at each polling location, and present a copy or original of one of the following supporting forms of identification:

–a government document that shows the voter’s name and an address, including the voter’s voter registration certificate;

–a current utility bill;

–a bank statement;

–a government check;

–a paycheck;

–a certified domestic (from a U.S. state or territory) birth certificate; or

–a document confirming birth admissible in a court of law which establishes the voter’s identity (which may include a foreign birth document)

The address on an acceptable form of photo identification or a supporting form of identification, if applicable, does not have to match the voter’s address on the list of registered voters.

If a voter meets these requirements and is otherwise eligible to vote, the voter will be able to cast a regular ballot in the election.

Voters with a disability may apply with the county voter registrar for a permanent exemption to presenting an acceptable form of photo identification or following the Reasonable Impediment Declaration procedure at the polls. Voters with a religious objection to being photographed or voters who do not present an acceptable form of photo identification or follow the Reasonable Impediment Declaration procedure at the polls because of certain natural disasters may apply for a temporary exemption to presenting an acceptable form of photo identification or following the Reasonable Impediment Declaration procedure. For more details, voters may contact their county voter registrar.

Voters with questions about how to cast a ballot in upcoming elections can call 1-800-252-VOTE

For more information on voting in Texas, visit VoteTexas.gov.

Or, contact the office of Freestone County Election Administrator Renee McBay at 903-389-0469. The office is located at 444 E. Main Street in Fairfield, Texas.

Election Day is November 5, 2024.