New elections administrator

There’s a “new” Ector County Elections Administrator.

Although the title’s new, the person filling the role is anything but new to the office.

Ector County Clerk Linda Haney confirmed that the position of elections administrator was offered to Mitzi Scheible — and Scheible has accepted the job.

Haney said the announcement of filling that post normally would come from County Judge Susan Redford, who is out of the country at this time.

“Judge Redford is chair of the committee,” Haney said, explaining why she was confirming Scheible’s selection. “I’m vice chair.”

Filling the election administrator’s job comes just in time for the Nov. 6 Constitutional Amendment Election. In fact, the administrator’s office is already gearing up for the election.

On Nov. 6, Ector County voters will join others throughout the state in casting ballots on 16 proposed constitutional amendments.

Scheible, the longtime assistant elections administrator, is concerned the turnout for this election may be small because there are no compelling issues on the ballot to be determined by voters.

There are no local issues, she said, and only Proposition 9, which relates to the amount of exemption from ad valorem taxation for homesteads of veterans, is creating any interest for the election.

“Most people are not interested in voting,” Scheible said, unless there are issues that really affect them personally.

Regardless, Scheible noted, the Elections Office still must prepare for the coming election, and the prospect that a large number of Ector County’s 66,708 registered voters may show up at the polls.

So they’re preparing.

Oct. 9 is the last day people may register to vote in the election. She said those wishing to register may do so at the Elections Office in the Ector County Administration Building Annex, 1010 E. Eighth St.

They may also register at the U.S. Postal Service, at the Texas Secretary of State’s website www.sos.tx.us or at the Ector County Elections Office website at www.co.ector.tx.us/county/elections.php.

Scheible said on the Elections Office website are a sample ballot, polling locations and a schedule for early voting.

Early voting will be conducted from Oct. 22 to Nov. 2, she said. Voters may cast their ballots 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday or from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 1, 2 and 6 at the Elections Office

Those requesting a mail-in application for a ballot must send a letter bearing their signature to the Elections Office postmarked no later than 5 p.m. Oct. 30. Those who may request mail-in ballots include those older than 65, the disabled or those who will be out of the county on Election Day.

On the Elections Office website is information about voting using the eSlate electronic voting system used by Ector County, Scheible said.

She said the Secretary of State’s website contains information about the proposed amendments on the Nov. 6 ballot. She said additional information is available on the League of Women Voters website at www.lwv.org.

Scheible also noted that Channel 10, the ECISD Network, will be broadcasting information on how to use the eSlate voting machines from Oct. 9-Nov. 6.

Bilingual Coordinator Lisa Sertuche said she has contacted the 50 bilingual workers needed for this election, but not all of them have responded. She said any others wanting to work the election should call the Elections Office at 498-4030 whether they are bilingual or not.