Hays County 2022 Midterm Voter guide

Emma Jones

News Reporter

The 2022 election is only a week away, on Nov. 8th Texans all over will be hitting the polls. Voting can be overwhelming, so this is a guide for Texas State students who will be voting in Hays County.

First, you want to check your voter registration. Early voting began on Oct. 21 ends on Nov. 4th. Polls will open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. on election day. Students can vote at the LBJ Student Center on campus, as well as other locations in or around San Marcos. 

Hays County residents will see a mixture of federal, statewide and local races on their ballot. You can check a sample of the Hays County Master Ballot to see the full list of candidates.

First, we will talk about the federal section on the ballot, which includes candidates for the United States Congress representing Texas.

United States Representative, District 21:

• Chip Roy – Republican
• Claudia Andreana Zapata – Democrat

United States Representative, District 35:

• Dan McQueen – Republican
• Greg Casar – Democrat 

Next, we will talk about our big statewide candidates: Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Railroad Commissioner, and Agriculture Commissioner.

Governor:

• Greg Abbott – Republican
• Beto O’Rourke – Democrat

Lieutenant Governor:

• Dan Patrick – Republican
• Mike Collier – Democrat

Attorney General:

• Ken Paxton – Republican
• Rochelle Mercedes Garza – Democrat

Commissioner of Agriculture:

• Sid Miller – Republican
• Susan Hays – Democrat

Railroad Commissioner:

• Wayne Christian – Republican
• Luke Warford – Democrat

Lastly, we will talk about our local elections: County judge, Hays County Commissioners, Mayor of San Marcos, and San Marcos City Council Members.

Hays County Judge:

• Mark Jones – Republican
• Ruben Becerra – Democrat

Mayor, City of San Marcos:

• Jane Hughson
• John Thomaides

County Commissioner, Precinct 2:

• Mike Gonzalez – Republican
• Michelle Gutierrez Cohen – Democrat

County Commissioner, Precinct 4:

• Walt Smith – Republican
• Susan Cook – Independent 

Justice of the Peace, Precinct 5

• Karen Marshall – Republican
• Sandra Bryant – Democrat

San Marcos City Council, Place 1:

• Matthew Mendoza
• Maxfield Baker

San Marcos City Council, Place 2:

• Saul Gonzales
• Atom Von Arndt

In addition, on the ballot there is a City of San Marcos Special Election, an ordinance to eliminate low-level marijuana enforcement. You can vote in favor or against the decriminalization of marijuana in San Marcos. It will show up on the ballot under the name Proposition A.

What is allowed at the polling place?

Outside of each polling location, you will see a cone, or a marker placed 100 feet from the entrance of the building. Inside of this mark you are not allowed to post, use or distribute any political signs. 

Keep in mind that it is against Texas law to wear any merchandise or apparel relating to a candidate who will appear on the ballot to a polling location. 

The use of cellphones, tablets or devices that can record sound or capture images are also prohibited within the mark. You can bring sample ballots, or handwritten notes with you.

Make sure you bring a photo ID to vote. If you do not have a photo ID, with written consent you can use a certified birth certificate, a valid voter registration certificate, or a current utility bill, bank statement or check. 

There are also curbside voting and other services available to voters with disabilities, for more information you can click here.