Early voting has been strong

Early voting has been strong, but not record-breaking for Orange County, after eight days of open polls for the Tuesday, November 8 mid-term elections. After eight days of early voting on Monday, Orange County had a total of 10,776 votes cast.

In 2020, which was the last presidential election, Orange County had 28,326 early votes cast. For the last mid-term election in 2018, a total of 18,612 votes were cast early.

On Tuesday, registered Orange County voters must go to their assigned neighborhood voting boxes. This year is considered the "mid-term" elections because it is not a presidential year. However, everyone in the country is voting for a representative in Congress . Texas has no U.S. Senator race this year, but the governor's race is on the ballot.

No matter who wins the election to represent Orange County for the U.S. House of Representatives, the county will have a new congress member. Once again, the Texas Legislature placed the county in a new congressional district. The county has changed districts in 2000, 2010, and 2020.

Locally, all the open county seats have Republicans running unopposed. People living in the Little Cypress-Mauriceville CISD will cast "for" or "against" a "Voter Approved Tax Rate" as allowed by the state to raise more tax money for the general maintenance and operations fund.

Also locally, members for the boards of directors of the county's four Emergency Services Districts will be elected by the general public. Everyone who does not live within the city limits of Orange, West Orange, or Pinehurst lives in one of the ESDs. The ESDs provide fire and rescue services and the boards set property tax rates for their respective districts. In the past, Orange County Commissioners Court appointed the board members.

Early voting will continue through Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday with extended hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Orange County registered voters may go early to any of the four sites: Orange County Airport, Orange Public Library, Mauriceville Community Center, and Raymond Gould Community Center in Vidor.

Candidates for the ESD boards have filed and voters will approved the top five for each district. The districts do not follow the county precinct lines. Poll workers will have the appropriate ballots for each voter based on their address.

ESD 1 is for residents in the city of Vidor and its outlying areas and has seven people running. Candidates are Jerry E. Aldridge, Gene Domec, Nelda Nash, Kenneth Luce, Larry C. Williams III, Wyatt Boyett, and John H. Houseman.

ESD 2 is for the city of Bridge City and its outlying areas including Orangefield. Six people filed to run. Candidates are Glen Childers Jr., Chris Landry, Wes Arnold, Aaron McNeil, Carroll LeBlanc, and Scott Barnes.

ESD 3 is the Little Cypress Fire and Rescue Department. Six candidates filed for the five positions. Candidates are Wayne LaCombe, Bobby Smith, Wesley Journeay, Corina Alonso, Cammie Manshack Vincent, and Cathy Drake.

ESD 4 covers the Mauriceville and McLewis areas. Only five people filed for the five positions. Candidates are Anthony Shue, Robert H. Hymes, Dan Brack, David Covey, and David Jones.

Orange County is now in Congressional District 14, with the sea t currently held by Republican Randy Weber, who is being challenged by Democrat Mikal Williams. The county previously has been in District 36, currently held by Republican Brian Babin.

The statewide race drawing the most attention is incumbent Republican Governor Greg Abbott running against former Congressman Beto O'Rourke, a Democrat.

Another challenged race for Orange County will be for State Senator District 3, with incumbent Republican Robert Nichols facing Democrat Steve Russell and Libertarian Desarae Lindsey.

Republican Dade Phelan, who is Orange County's state representative, is running unopposed.