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Karnes County Voting Precinct Map
Commissioner Pct. 1 is voting precincts:
4 & 11
Commissioner Pct. 2 is voting precincts:
2, 6, 7, 10, 12 &13
Commissioner Pct. 3 is voting precincts:
    1, 3, 8 & 15
Commissioner Pct. 4 is voting precincts:
      5, 9 & 14
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ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT

Beth Montalvo
Elections Administrator

Karnes County thrives when every person takes part in the voting process.  Our website is designed to inform and assist voters so they can successfully cast their ballot.

The electoral process only succeeds when all voters in our community are informed and actively participate.  As the Karnes County Elections Administrator, I encourage you to learn more about the elections process and make your voice heard in the upcoming elections. 

Office Location:
Address/Mailing:

Karnes County Elections
210 West Calvert, Suite 140
Karnes City, TX 78118


Directory:
Phone: (830) 780-2246
Fax: (830) 780-3059

Hours:
Monday - Friday 8 am - 5 pm

Office Closures:

Monday October 14 Open 1 pm - 5 pm - Columbus Day
Monday November 11, 2024 - Veterans Day
Wednesday November 27, 2024 12:00 to 5:00 pm
Thursday November 28, 2024 - Thanksgiving
Friday November 29, 2024 - Thanksgiving

Ballot by Mail Requests:
elections@co.karnes.tx.us

  • Voting Priority: A voter with a mobility problem that substantially impairs the voter's ability to ambulate, and the voter agrees to be given voting order priority, the Election Officer will move you to the front of the line for check-in and voting.  A Voting Priority sign is posted at the entrance to the voting place.  

    Curbside Voting: Curbside Voting is available for voters who are physically unable to enter the polling place without personal assistance or likelihood of injuring the voter's health.  A designated reserved parking spot is marked with a Curbside Voting sign.  A voter may call 830-780-2246 and let us know which location you are ready to vote at and what type of car you are driving.  We will let the Presiding Judge know you are waiting to vote curbside.  Two election officials will perform the curbside voting election duties and will be in possession of the voter's ballot at all times.  A voter may request that someone they designate to watch the election officials scan the voter's ballot.  

    Equipment:  Karnes County uses Hart Verity's voting equipment.  The intuitive touchscreen delivers easy-to-use plain language interfaces.  A full suite of accessibility features ensures all voters can vote privately and independently.  Use of the KNOWiNk poll pads, provides the voter a seamless electronic check-in and verification process that alleviates long lines at the polling sites.  If a voter who is unable to sign their name on the poll pad, the election officer shall enter the voter's name with a notation of the reason for the voter's inability to sign.  

    Assistant: A voter who is eligible to receive assistance is entitled to be assisted by a person of the voter's choice or to be assisted by two election officers.  

    Interpreter:  Voters who cannot speak English, or who communicate only with sign language, may use an interpreter of their choice to help them communicate with election officials.

    Witness:  If a voter is required to sign a document and cannot do so because of a physical disability or illiteracy, the document may be signed for the person by a witness.  When a witness signs on behalf of a voter, the person who cannot sign must affix the person's mark to the document, which the witness must attest to.  If the person cannot make a mark, then the witness must state that fact on the document.  

    Accessible Polling Place:  Karnes County Elections makes every effort to make sure each polling place and early voting location is accessible to an usable by the elderly and individuals with disabilities.  Should you or someone you know encounter any location that is not accessible, please notify the Elections Administration Office immediately at 830-780-2246.

    • The Elections Administration Office is committed to making the content of its web site accessible to all, including individuals with disabilities, and to ensuring its web site complies with Title II of The Americans with Disabilities Act and Sections 504  and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, by using World Wide Web Consortium's  (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level AA.

      Third-Party Sites

      Some of the pages on the Elections Administration (EA) web site may contain links to third-party sites. The EA is not responsible for the online content or accessibility of third-party sites that do not relate to our programs, services, and activities. 

      We Welcome Your Feedback

      If you have difficulty accessing information on our website because of a disability, please contact us. Be sure to include the information below, so we may contact you to provide the information in another format.

      Your name, Email address, Phone number, URL (web address) of the material you tried to access, and the problem you are experiencing.

      Contact Us
      Elections Administration
      electionsadmin@co.karnes.tx.us
      830-780-2246

  • Verity Duo - How to Vote from Hart InterCivic on Vimeo.

    How to vote on Verity Duo ballot marking device.

    VOTING EQUIPMENT:

    KARNES COUNTY PURCHASED NEW VOTING EQUIPMENT AND USES A PAPER BALLOT VOTING SYSTEM AS OF THE MAY 2023 ELECTION.  Karnes County selected HART Intercivic as the vendor for the new voting system.  This system provides a verifiable auditable paper trail system.  Verity Duo Standalone is a ballot marking device that provides the voter verification of the choices made on the printed ballot and assurance of the choices made before the ballot is cast.  The Verity voting system ensures reliable audits of voter intent with digital capture of full ballot images of scanned ballots.  The scanner reads and records the same words the voter verified on the ballot thus ensuring voter verifiability.  
     

      HART VERITY VOTING EQUIPMENT CERTIFICATION

    ELECTION SECURITY:

    Websites:
    Hart Intercivic Security
    Homeland Security - Elections Security
    Texas Secretary of State - Election Security

  • County Judge: Wade J. Hedtke, 4-year term ends in 2026
    Sheriff: Dwayne Villanueva, 4-year term, ends in 2024 
    County Attorney: David Chapman, 4-year term, ends in 2024 
    District Clerk: Denise Rodriguez, 4-year term, ends in 2026
    County Clerk: Carol Swize, 4-year term, ends in 2026
    County Treasurer: Vi Swierc, 4-year term, ends in 2026
    Tax-Assessor Collector: Tammy Braudaway, 4-year term, ends in 2024

    County Commissioner 1: Shelby Dupnik, 4-year term, ends in 2024
    County Commissioner 2: Benny Lyssy, 4-year term, ends in 2026
    County Commissioner 3: James Rosales, 4-year term, ends in 2024
    County Commissioner 4: Wes Gisler, 4-year term, ends in 2026

    Justice of the Peace 1: Rachel V. Garcia, 4-year term, ends in 2026
    Justice of the Peace 2: Caroline Korzekwa, 4-year term, ends in 2026
    Justice of the Peace 3: Trent Enriquez, 4-year term, ends in 2026
    Justice of the Peace 4: David Sotelo, 4-year term, ends in 2026

    Constable 1: Eddie Salas, 4-year term, ends in 2024
    Constable 2: Donald Hons, 4-year term, ends in 2024
    Constable 3: David Kunschik, 4-year term, ends in 2024
    Constable 4: Fernando Rios, 4-year term, ends in 2024

  • HOW TO REGISTER TO VOTE AND GET AN APPLICATION:

    To vote in Texas, you must be registered with your county.

    Simply pick up a voter registration application, fill it out completely and legibly, and return it to the Voter Registration Office at least 30 days before the election date.  

    You can register to vote online or update your voter registration HERE.

    CHECK YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION:

    To check if you’re already registered to vote in Texas, use the following link: Am I Registered? 

      
  • VOLUNTEER DEPUTY REGISTRARS

    Helping Karnes County Citizens Register to Vote
     

    Volunteer Deputy Registrars (VDRs) are entrusted with the responsibility of officially registering voters in Karnes County. They are appointed by county voter registrars and charged with helping increase voter registration in their county. Acceptance of the duties of volunteer deputy registrar places you in a position of trust and responsibility to the citizens you will register to vote.

    VDRs 

    • Are appointed by each county’s voter registrar;
    • Distribute, assist in completion & review of voter registration applications;
    • Accept completed voter registration application and provide receipts;
    • Turn in completed applications in person to their county voter registrar office within 5 calendar days;
    • VDRs serve for two-year terms expiring on December 31 of even-numbered years.

    You may become a deputy registrar by attending any of our in person training classes. Upon completion of the training, you will be issued a certificate of appointment and all necessary supplies needed to register citizens.

    Call the Karnes County Elections Administrator to schedule a time for the training at 830-780-2246.

  • VOTING BY MAIL

    Absentee Ballot By Mail (ABBM) must be applied for each calendar year. You may call our office at 830-780-2246 to request a application to be mailed to you or click here for a printable version of it.

    REASONS FOR VOTING BY MAIL

    • 65 years of age or older
    • Disability
    • Expected to give birth within three weeks before or after Election Day
    • Expected absence from the county during Early Voting thru Election Day
    • Confinement in jail

    Mail applications for ballot by mail to: TRACK YOUR BALLOT

    Karnes County Elections Click HERE to track your mail ballot
    210 W. Calvert, Ste. 140
    Karnes City, TX 78118

    *** New law regarding emailed and faxed ABBM

    Section 84.007(b-1) provides that if an ABBM is faxed or emailed, then the applicant MUST submit the ORIGINAL APPLICATION BY MAIL to the early voting clerk so that the early voting clerk receives the original no later than the 4th business day after receiving the emailed or faxed ABBM.

    If the early voting clerk DOES NOT receive the original ABBM in the office by the 4th business day deadline, then the emailed or faxed ABBM will be considered incomplete and rejected.  

    FOR MILITARY/OVERSEAS VOTERS

    FPCA

    TRACK YOUR MAIL BALLOT

     

    • NEW

      Campaign Finance Portal - Candidates and Elected Officials can now file all of their reports to the Election Office online.  First, each individual that would prefer to file online, must submit a "wet" signature to the Election Office in person.  Once we have received the "wet" signatures, you may create an account at this website: Candidate Filings  Once you have an account you can access the different forms from the Texas Ethics Commission - step by step directions click here

      Candidate or Elected Official must fill out each form and return to our office if you want us to scan your form for you.

      Individuals can look at each report that has been filed by each candidate.  To see the reports, you do not have to create an account, to view candidate filings, click here

    FIRST STEPS

    Please visit the Texas Ethics Commissions page for their Frequently Asked Questions

    CANDIDATE FORMS

    Application for a place on the Primary Ballot: Application
    Appointment of a Campaign Treasurer by a Candidate: Form (Instruction Guide)
    Campaign Finance Report: Form (Instruction Guide)
    Code of Fair Campaign Practices: Form

    CANDIDATE GUIDES

    Political Advertising: Guide
    Pollwatcher: Guide
    Political Fundraising- Guide

    HELPFUL RESOURCES

    Rules for Posting Campaign Signs: Information
    Prohibition Against Using Political Subdivision Resources for Political Advertising: Information

    Texas Ethics Commission: Information

  • COUNTY ELECTION COMMISSION (Election Code Section 31.032)

    ·        County Judge (Chair)

    ·        County Clerk (Vice-Chair)

    ·        Tax Assessor-Collector (Secretary)

    ·        Democratic Party County Chair

    ·        Republican Party County Chair

     

    General Responsibilities:

    HB 1678 – 82nd Legislative Session (2011):  “The Legislature finds that the powers of a county election commission extend no further than to the appointment, acceptance of resignation, or recommendation for termination of a county elections administrator.”

     

     

    COUNTY ELECTION BOARD (Election Code Section 51.002)

    ·        Elections Administrator (Chair)

    ·        County Judge

    ·        Sheriff

    ·        Democratic Party County Chair

    ·        Republican Party County Chair

     

    General Responsibilities:

    Approves the Elections Administrator’s procurement of election supplies necessary to conduct the general election [Section 51.003(1)].

    Appoints the members of the Early Voting Ballot Board from lists submitted by the political parties [Section 87.002(c)].

     Appoints the Presiding Judge of the Early Voting Ballot Board from lists submitted by the political parties [Section 87.002(d)].

    Appoints the members of the Early Voting Signature Verification Committee from lists submitted by the political parties [Section 87.027(b)].

     Appoints chair of the Early Voting Signature Verification Committee from lists submitted by the political parties [Section 87.027(b1)].