Harris County voters are officially on the clock. Early voting for the May 2 special election opened Monday, April 20, and runs through Tuesday, April 28, giving residents just over a week to weigh in on a short but consequential ballot. The lineup includes a special election for Texas Senate District 4 along with several local measures, and county officials say seven countywide vote centers are open for the early window. Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth scheduled a 10 a.m. Monday press conference to walk voters through the plan and field questions.
Official Schedule And Hours
The Harris County Clerk's elections website pegs the official early voting period at April 20 through April 28, with polls open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., according to HarrisVotes. One wrinkle in the schedule: the Texas Secretary of State has advised that early voting will not take place on Tuesday, April 21, in observance of San Jacinto Day, per the Texas Secretary of State. Voters can head to the county site to pull up sample ballots, locate vote centers and check mail ballot deadlines before heading out.
Where To Vote
County officials say seven vote centers are operating during the early voting stretch, with the roster set to jump to 27 polling locations on Election Day, as reported by Click2Houston. That coverage notes Hudspeth's 10 a.m. Monday press conference was slated to lay out the specifics on locations, hours and access.
Local reporting highlights early voting sites in Kingwood, Huffman, Crosby, Highlands, Spring, North Houston and downtown, giving much of the county at least one option within a reasonable drive. Voters in Harris County can cast a ballot at any open vote center during early voting, while some neighboring counties still require residents to report to their assigned precinct on Election Day, as Community Impact points out.
What's On The Ballot
The headline race is the special election for Texas Senate District 4, where Democrat Ron Angeletti is facing Republican Brett W. Ligon, according to The Texas Tribune. Ligon, a former Montgomery County district attorney, has lined up GOP backing, while Angeletti is carrying the Democratic banner in what has become a quick, tightly focused campaign.
Also on the menu for some voters: Proposition A for Montgomery County Emergency Service District No. 10, which funds the Magnolia Fire Department. The measure would raise the local sales tax in affected areas to the statewide cap of 8.25% to pay for staffing, fire stations and equipment, according to the district's Magnolia Fire Department.
Voter Reminders
Voters are required to bring an acceptable form of photo identification to the polls. Details on what counts, along with information on curbside voting and vote by mail deadlines, are available on HarrisVotes. This early voting period is separate from the early voting window for the May 26 primary runoff, a distinction highlighted by Click2Houston, so voters eyeing both elections will want to keep an eye on the calendar.
Residents who need help sorting out their polling place, eligibility or paperwork can contact the Harris County Clerk's Elections Department, which lists several support options and a main phone line at (713) 755‑6965 for voter questions.
