More than 3,000 early ballots cast in Erath

Early voting in the Nov. 3 general election is now underway, bringing several local, state and federal races for Dublin and Lingleville voters to decide upon.

As of Friday morning, a total of 3,798 Erath voters have cast their ballots in person with 3,304 in Stephenville and 674 in Dublin. A total of 738 mail-in ballots have been cast.

Early voting has been moved to Patrick Street Church of Christ (630 N. Patrick Street)in Dublin and the Graham Street Church of Christ Family Center (375 N. Graham St.) in Stephenville by county officials to ensure more space for social distancing during the election proceedings.

Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct.16, Oct. 19 - Oct. 23 and Oct. 26 – Oct. 30. (The polls will also be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 24 at the Graham Street location.) On election day (Nov. 3), the polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at both of the previous locations as well as the Bluff Dale Community Center, the Cornerstone Assembly of God, Huckabay Community Center, Lingleville School Building, Morgan Mill Community Center, Selden Community Center, Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center and Texas Bank in Stephenville.

Dublin voters have two local elections to evaluate: a special option to allow “the legal sale of all alcoholic beverages including mixed beverages” and City Council place 4 in which incumbent Ben Pate is facing Eric Bullard.

If approved, the special option will allow the sale of alcohol at any type of business with special permits and subject to a city ordinance, which would have to be decided and approved by the city council following a successful election.

The special option liquor election was originally supposed to be decided in the May elections which were postponed due to shelter and social distancing restrictions. The option was put on to the ballot after organizers gathered 300 qualified signatures of residents within the city limits from among the 425 signatures received. (A total of 265 signatures were required for the election to be held.)

Lingleville voters are deciding in one contested school board race locally: Position 1, in which incumbent Sonya Koke is facing challenger Tammy Kellar. (Fellow school board members Justin Wilson, Larry Griffin, Brent Hallmark and Tyler Howle are running unopposed for their positions.)

Click the following link for more information about what's on the ballot: https://www.dublincitizen.com/news/early-voting-starts-tuesday