Published: October 31, 2007 09:48 pm      

Early voting ends Friday

By Tommy Mann Jr.

The Orange Leader



Only two days remain for Orange County residents to cast a ballot during the early voting period prior to Tuesday’s election.

According to Tina Leverett, Orange County Election Administrator, registered voters may still vote from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Friday.

“Early voting turnout has been going a little slow so far,” Leverett said. “People still have today and Friday to vote before Tuesday’s official election, so we do expect to see a few more voters go to the polls.”

According to information provided by Leverett, a total of 1,017 early votes have been received through Tuesday. Of those, 406 votes were in person while the remaining 611 were received by mail.

Of the 406 votes received, a total of 228 votes have been received thus far in Orange, or Precinct 1 as of Tuesday. A total of 34 votes have been received in Bridge City, 108 in Vidor, and 36 in Mauriceville.

Early voting locations include the Orange Public Library in Precinct 1, which is also the site for residents of the West Orange-Cove school district wishing to vote in the bond election.

Other county locations include the Bridge City Public Works Building, located at 220 Nitche in Precinct 2; First Baptist Church on Highway 12 in Mauriceville, Precinct 3; and the Vidor Independent School District Administration Building at the corner of Main Street and East Courtland Street, Precinct 4, which is also the site for residents of the school district wishing to vote in the tax-rollback election.

According to Bonnie Tegge, secretary to the superintendent of schools for the West Orange-Cove Consolidated Independent School District, a total of 270 votes had been received for the district’s proposed $48.4 million bond issue.

The heart of the proposed bond issue is the construction of a new elementary school. The district has already decided upon a location for the new school in the Pinehurst area, whether the bond issue is approved by area voters or not.

In early August, the district announced it would seek voter approval of a $51.99 million bond election on Tuesday for a new elementary school, building additions, and renovation of existing facilities, including the high school football, baseball and softball stadiums.

The school board later opted to reduce the bond proposal to $48.4 million and separate the proposal into two issues for the remaining amount.

The Vidor Independent School District is having a tax-rollback election on Tuesday and hopes voters will approve a salary increase for district personnel.

According to Debbie Munoz, secretary to the VISD superintendent of schools, a total of 311 votes have been received through Tuesday.



Reach this reporter at 409-883-3571, Ext. 2619 or tmann@orangeleader.com