Pictured is the William N. “Billy” Hall Jr. Administration Building at 1110 Washington St. which houses the Webb County Elections Office.
Tuesday is the final chance to vote in the May 2022 primary runoff elections, as Election Day has come once again.
As of Friday, early voting totaled over 14,859 Webb County ballots cast, as voters are being encouraged to go out and make their voices heard.
On Monday, Webb County commissioners urged eligible voters to vote in the elections. Throughout the precincts, polling sites have been set up for precinct voters to visit and cast their vote in their respective precinct. They will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and a list of voting sites and a sample ballot is posted on the county’s elections administration website.
According to Webb County Elections Administrator Jose Luis Castillo, while the early voting period saw more participation than previously anticipated — including more new voters — he emphasizes that voters will have to vote in their respective precinct on Tuesday. In contrast, early voting allows any eligible voter to vote at any site during that week.
For those that voted during March’s primary election, they will only be allowed to vote with the same ballot they cast in that election. So if you voted with a Democratic ballot in March, you will not be able to vote with a Republican ballot on Election Day.
However, due to issues at the Texas Secretary of State’s office, precinct information is outdated after the redistricting. Castillo said that the situation is frustrating, as that added hoop may deter some from voting. But he said that it is very important to vote, and his office would help as needed.
Similar to the March primaries, residents can call the elections office for more information about their precinct and respective poll site but are advised that call times may be lengthy as many will have similar questions.
Additional help can be found using the Laredo Open Data GIS portal and finding the political boundaries tab. With the tool, each district is mapped out and color-coded with the name of the district councilmember. For Tuesday’s election, one can find their home address on the map and find their precinct number using the numbers labeled per precinct.
Once finding their precinct number — which is also located on their voter card that residents receive in the mail — residents can visit the Webb County Elections Administration website and click the Elections Day locations button on the right side of the page for the list of locations by precinct. They can then match up their precinct number with the listed voting location. Residents can also see the bottom of this story for the full list of locations by precinct.
“Its very important that you come out and vote and make an informed decision. Vote your choosing, your liking, your conscience; don’t let anyone sway your vote,” Castillo said. “Don’t believe the hype. The vote is secure, you’re vote does count. There is no manipulation of the vote or anything, the system is secure.”
During the seven days of the early voting period, thousands of voters headed to the polls to cast their ballot throughout the city, including those that cast their mail-in ballots. The current early voting total locally saw a major disparity between Democratic and Republican voters as 13,667 and 1,192 votes were cast, respectively. The same is true for mail-in ballots in which 667 Democratic ballots were sent in compared to just 16 Republican ballots.
Castillo added that the general reception to the newer machines during the March election as well as early voting last week had positive feedback. Amid the feedback, there were voters who showed some hesitancy, but after working with the machine, the hesitancy was relived. He emphasized that they were still working with paper ballots.
Castillo also reminded the public that the elections administration building — where the ballots are counted — is monitored with surveillance equipment. The cameras will livestream the counting process for the public to see, and a link to the stream can be found on the lefthand side of the administrations office website.
As per the implementation, Castillo said that the Senate Bill 1 additions have neither helped nor interfered. Poll watchers will be allowed, but he said that he had not encountered any issues or complaints thus far.
Among the local races Laredoans will vote on for Election Day include the much-discussed Congressional seat for Texas’ District 28.
Nine-term incumbent Henry Cuellar will try to hold off challenger Jessica Cisneros on the Democratic side. Meanwhile, Cuellar’s opponent for the general election from 2020 in Sandra Whitten will look to represent local Republicans again as she faces Cassy Garcia, who had the most GOP votes in March.
In the State Board of Education race for District 1, Melissa N. Ortega and Laura Marquez meet in the runoff — the winner takes on Republican Michael “Travis” Stevens in November. The Webb County Commissioner Pct. 4 spot will also go down to a runoff with incumbent Cindy Liendo facing Ricky Jaime.
There are also five statewide positions to be voted on — four featuring Democratic showdowns and three with Republican battles.
These include:
Democratic
Rochelle Garza
Joe Jaworski
Republican
George P. Bush
Ken Paxton — Incumbent
Democratic
Michelle Beckley
Mike Collier
Democratic
Jay Kleberg
Sandragrace Martinez
Republican
Dawn Buckingham
Tim Westley
Democratic
Janet T. Dudding
Angel Luis Vega
Republican
Wayne Christian — Incumbent
Sarah Stogner
Pct. Location Address City
401 City Hall of Laredo 1110 Houston St. Laredo
402 McDonell Elementary School 1606 Benavides St. Laredo
403 Shirley Field Sports Complex 2002 San Bernardo Ave. Laredo
404 Richter Courts Hall 1600 Circle Dr. Laredo
405 Piedra Angular Templo Cristiano 4050 Santa Maria Ave. Laredo
406 Santa Maria Elementary School 3801 Santa Maria Ave. Laredo
407 (35 Plaza) will vote at (465) Farias Elementary 1510 Chicago St. Laredo
308 (Clark Elem.) will vote at (361) Grace Bible Church 5303 Alabama Ave. Laredo
309 A. Gutierrez Elementary School 505 W. Calle Del Norte Laredo
310 (Christ Miracle) will vote at (311) Alma Pierce Elem. 800 E. Eistetter St Laredo
311 Alma Pierce Elem. 800 E. Eistetter St. Laredo
312 Sanchez / Ochoa Elem. School 211 E. Ash St. Laredo
413 Don Jose Gallego Elem. School 520 Clark Blvd. Laredo
414 Bruni Elementary 1502 San Eduardo Ave. Laredo
415 Memorial Middle School 2002 Marcella Ave. Laredo
416 Laredo Fire Dept. 1 Guadalupe St. Laredo
417 (Heights Elem.) will vote at (422) Lamar Middle S. 1818 N. Arkansas Ave. Laredo
218 Nixon High School – Annex 2900 N Malinche Ave. Laredo
219 Milton Elementary School 2502 E. Elm St. Laredo
220 F. S. Lara Academy 2901 E. Travis St. Laredo
221 Christ Episcopal Church 2320 E. Lane St. Laredo
422 Lamar Middle School 1818 N. Arkansas Ave. Laredo
123 Daiches Elementary School 1401 Green St. Laredo
124 St. Joseph Church Hall 110 N. Meadow Ave. Laredo
125 (Gateway Church) will vote at (266) City H. Annex 1102 Bob Bullock Loop Laredo
226 Webb County Appraisal District 3302 Clark Blvd. Laredo
227 Iglesia Senda de Gloria 125 W. Mendoza St. Laredo
128 Templo Revelacion 1102 S. Meadow Ave. Laredo
129 Santo Nino Elementary School 2702 Bismark St. Laredo
130 McKendrick, Ochoa, Salinas Library 1920 Palo Blanco St. Laredo
231 Ruiz Elementary School 1717 Ave. Los Presidentes Laredo
132 Prada Elementary School 510 Soria Dr. Laredo
133 (Triumph H.S.)will vote at (169) Centeno E. School 2710 La Pita Mangana Laredo
134 Juarez-Lincoln Elementary 1003 Espejo Molina Rd. Rio Bravo
135 El Cenizo Community Center 3519 Cecilia Ln. El Cenizo
136 E. Salinas Community Ctr. 917 N. Main Mirando
237 Bruni Community Center 303 E. 12th St. Bruni
238 Santa Teresita Community Ctr. 15014 Hwy. 59 Laredo
239 B P Newmann Elem. School 1300 Alta Vista Dr. Laredo
340 Kristi-Lin’s Academy Inc. 1806 Commerce Dr. Laredo
341 Nye Elementary School 101 E. Del Mar Blvd. Laredo
342 JP Precinct 4 Building 8501 San Dario Ave. Laredo
343 United Middle School 700 E. Del Mar Blvd. Laredo
344 Church of the Crossroads 1301 International Blvd. Laredo
345 Matias De Llano Elem. School 1415 Shiloh Dr. Laredo
446 Finley Elementary School 2001 Lowry Rd. Laredo
447 Muller Elementary 4430 Muller Memorial Dr. Laredo
448 (F&A Bruni) will vote at (447) Muller Elementary 4430 Muller Memorial Dr. Laredo
349 United High School 2811 United Ave. Laredo
250 UISD SAC 5208 Santa Claudia Ln. Laredo
251 (The Gym Legacy) will vote at (220) F.S. Lara A. 2901 E. Travis St. Laredo
252 United South High School 4001 Ave. Los Presidentes Laredo
453 (Lamar B. Vergara) will vote at (414) Bruni Elem. 1502 San Eduardo Ave. Laredo
154 LB Johnson High School 5626 Cielito Lindo Blvd. Laredo
255 Texas A&M Int’l University 5201 University Blvd. Laredo
356 Borchers Elementary School 9551 Backwoods Trail Laredo
457 Long Branch Saloon 15811 U.S. Hwy 83 N. Laredo
458 G. Washington Middle School 10306 River Bank Dr. Laredo
359 The Gym Legacy 9020 San Dario Ave. Laredo
460 Gallagher Garden Apts. 5118 Gallagher Ave. Laredo
361 Grace Bible Church 5303 Alabama Ave. Laredo
462 (Pepboys) will vote at (460) Gallagher Garden Apts. 5118 Gallagher Ave. Laredo
363 (LISD Nutirition) will vote at (312) Sanchez O. Elem.211 E. Ash St. Laredo
164 DD Hachar Elementary (LISD) 3000 Guadalupe St. Laredo
465 Farias Elementary 1510 Chicago St. Laredo
266 City Hall Annex Bldg. 1102 Bob Bullock Loop Laredo
267 Cuellar Elementary School 6431 Casa Del Sol Blvd. Laredo
268 (UISD SAC) will vote at (275) USHS 9th Grade 3819 Aguanieve Dr. Laredo
169 Centeno Elementary School 2710 La Pita Mangana Laredo
370 JB Alexander High School 3600 E. Del Mar Blvd Laredo
371 Col. Santos Benavides Elementary 10702 Kirby Ln. Laredo
272 Guerra Building 6402 N. Bartlett Laredo
273 Buffalo Pawn 4301A Jaime Zapata Hwy Laredo
274 Bonnie Garcia Elem. School 1453 Concord Hills Blvd. Laredo
275 USHS 9th grade 3819 Aguanieve Dr. Laredo
176 Octavio Salinas Elementary 3611 Alfredo Cantu Dr. Laredo
177 Los Obispos Middle School 4801 Ejido Ave. Laredo
278 (Callaghan Ranch) will vote at (457) Long Branch S. 15811 U.S. Hwy 83 N. Laredo
Christian Alejandro Ocampo reports on education for the Laredo Morning Times. He originally joined LMT as a photographer.
