Early voting in the state constitutional and city charter amendments elections ended Friday, and those still interested in exercising their right to vote in the current election will have just one more chance on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Despite the downpour on Thursday, it was actually one of the busiest days at the polls until about 5 o'clock, when weather conditions worsened, according to Todd Stallings with the Nacogdoches County elections office. However, overall turnout has been relatively dismal, according to the official numbers.
Just over 820 early ballots were cast from county voters on the 11 constitutional amendments, and 480 people took part in the city election to add 10 changes to the city's charter. Only 30 people, so far, have voted in the Martinsville ISD bond election, according to Stallings.
"As far as the low turnout is concerned, it's really not a surprise," Stallings said. "I went to a state election conference earlier this year, and they told us there that it was going to be pretty low. The turnout is right on par with what the secretary of state was predicting."
He added that the turnout in Nacogdoches has been comparable to equal-sized counties across Texas.
The lack of participation in this election can be chalked up to a lack of interesting ballot measures, Stallings said.
"There's just not a super-controversial amendment that has drawn out people like in the past," he said. "When we had the same-sex marriage amendment, it drew out thousands and thousands. But this time, there just hasn't really been one issue that the public as a whole was too concerned about."
On election day, the polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and because of the low turnout received during the early voting stage, the elections office has combined many of the polling places. There are 12 polling sites around the county, and city voters can vote at either the North Street Church of Christ or at Thomas J. Rusk Elementary School.
Polling places
The following are the Nacogdoches County and City of Nacogdoches Election Day polling locations for the Nov. 3, 2009, elections.
Voting hours for all locations listed below are from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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Nacogdoches County Constitutional Amendment Election
Some locations have been combined for this election only.
Precinct 11: Beck Building, 720 Seventh St., Cushing.
Precinct 13: Douglass ISD, 20712 FM 225, Douglass.
Precinct 15: First Baptist Church - Garrison, 275 W. Magnolia St., Garrison.
Precinct 16: Bethel Baptist Church, 429 Happyland Rd., Nacogdoches.
Precincts 18 & 14: Central Heights ISD, 10317 N. U.S. Hwy. 259, Nacogdoches.
Precincts 24, 17, 21, 22/23, 25/26, 27/28, 41, & 42: TJR Elementary School, 411 N. Mound St., Nacogdoches.
Precincts 30/31/32, 33 & 34: North Street Church Of Christ, 3914 North St., Nacogdoches.
Precincts 43 & 48: New Hope Methodist Church, 5301 E. Main St., Nacogdoches.
Precinct 44: Woden ISD, 5263 FM 226, Woden.
Precinct 46: Chireno Methodist Church, 799 Main St., Chireno.
Precinct 47: Etoile ISD, 16039 FM 226, Etoile.
Precinct 49: Martinsville ISD, 12952 E. State Highway 7, Nacogdoches.
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City of Nacogdoches Special Charter Amendment Election
Registered voters who live within the city limits of Nacogdoches and wish to vote in the city of Nacogdoches special charter amendment
election may vote at either of the locations listed below.
All Precincts: TJR Elementary School, 411 N. Mound St., Nacogdoches.
All Precincts: North Street Church Of Christ, 3914 North St., Nacogdoches.
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Martinsville ISD school bond election
Residents living within the boundaries of Martinsville ISD will vote at Martinsville School, 12952 E. State Highway 7, Nacogdoches.
