TYLER, Texas — The March 2022 primary election is on the horizon and voters should prepare now to ensure they have the information needed to cast a ballot in the Lone Star State.
According to CBS19's sister station, WFAA, some important changes to Texas voting laws include:
No more automatic distribution of mail-in ballots
While many Texans might automatically qualify for mail-in voting, they won't automatically receive an application
Senate Bill 1 prevents election officials from sending unsolicited mail ballot applications. If they do so, they'll face a state jail felony charge.
Updated ID requirements
Mail voters will now have to include one of three identification methods on their ballot: Their driver's license number, election identification certificate or the last four digits of their Social Security number. That's in addition to a signature that can be matched with a previous signature in Texas Department of Public Safety records.
More autonomy for poll watchers
Poll watchers, who observe voting and counting for each political party, will now have "free movement" in voting precincts, though they still won't have be able to watch people cast their ballot.
Under previously law, poll watchers were allowed to sit "conveniently near" election workers, according to the Texas Tribune.
Voters with questions about how to cast a ballot in the upcoming election can call 1-800-252-VOTE or visit VoteTexas.gov for more information.
Below is a list of races that will be on East Texans' ballots during the March primary:
U.S. HOUSE - DIST. 1
Republican
- Aditya “A.D.” Atholi
- Joe McDaniel II
- Nathaniel Moran
- John Porro
Democrat
- Gavin Dass
- Victor D. Dunn
- Jrmar JJ Jefferson
- Stephen Kocen
U.S. HOUSE - DIST. 4
Republican
- Pat Fallon (Incumbent)
- John E. Harper
- Dan Thomas
Democrat
- Iro Omere
U.S. HOUSE - DIST. 8
Republican
- Betsy Bates
- Candice C. Burrows
- Christian Collins
- Jonathan Hullihan
- Morgan Luttrell
- Dan McKaughan
- Jonathan A. Mitchell
- Chuck Montgomery
- Michael Philips
- Jessica Wellington
- Taylor M. Whichard IV
U.S. HOUSE - DIST. 17
Republican
- Paulette Carson
- Jason Nelson
- Rob Rosenberger
- Pete Sessions (Incumbent)
GOVERNOR
Republican
- Danny Harrison
- Chad Prather
- Paul Belew
- Rick Perry
- Don Huffines
- Allen B. West
- Greg Abbott (Incumbent)
- Kandy Kaye Horn
Democrat
- Michael Cooper
- Joy Diaz
- Inocencio Barrientez
- Rich Wakeland
- Beto O'Rourke
LT. GOVERNOR
Republican
- Daniel Miller
- Dan Patrick (Incumbent)
- Todd M. Bullis
- Trayce Bradford
- Aaron Sorrells
- Zach Vance
Democrat
- Michele Beckley
- Carla Brailey
- Mike Collier
ATTORNEY GENERAL
Republican
- George P. Bush
- Louie Gohmert
- Ken Paxton (Incumbent)
- Eva Guzman
Democrat
- Lee Merritt
- Rochelle Garza
- S. Raynor
- Mike Fields
- Joe Jaworski
COMPTROLLER
Republican
- Mark Goloby
- Glenn Hegar
Democrat
- Janet Dudding
- Tim Mahoney
- Angel Vega
LAND COMMISSIONER
Republican
- Dawn Buckingham
- Don Minton
- Ben Armenta
- Rufus Lopez
- Tim Westley
- Jon Spiers
- Victor Avila
- Weston Martinez
Democrat
- Jiinny Suh
- Sandragrace Martinez
- Michale Lange
- Jay Kleberg
AG COMMISSIONER
Republican
- Sid Miller (Incumbent)
- James White
- Carey Counsil
Democrat
- Susan Hayes
- Ed Ireson
RAILROAD COMMISSIONER
Republican
- Tom Slocum Jr.
- Marvin Summers
- Sarah Stogner
- Dawayne Tipton
- Wayne Christian (Incumbent)
TEXAS SUPREME COURT, PLACE 9
Republican
- David Schenck
- Evan Young
COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS, PLACE 5
Republican
- Clint Mogan
- Scott Walker
STATE REP. - DIST. 5
Republican
- Dewey R. Collier
- Cole Hefner (Incumbent)
STATE REP. - DIST. 6
Republican
- Matt Schaefer (Incumbent)
- Charles Turner
STATE REP. - DIST. 11
Republican
- Greg Caldwell
- Travis Clardy (Incumbent)
- Rachel Hale
- Mark Williams
STATE REP. - DIST. 19
Republican
- Justin Berry
- Nubia Devine
- Perla Hopkins
- Ellen Troxclair
ANDERSON COUNTY
For early voting locations, election day locations and sample ballots, click here.
87TH DISTRICT JUDGE
- Dan Scarbrough
- Stanley Sokolowski
- Brian Walsh
- Amy Thomas Ward
COUNTY JUDGE
- Robert Johnston (Incumbent)
- Carey G. McKinney
- Jon Watson
COUNTY COURT AT LAW
- Jeff Doran (Incumbent)
- Brenda Johnston
COUNTY TREASURER
- Tara Lambright Holliday (Incumbent)
- Jake Odem
COUNTY COMMISSIONER - PCT. 4
- Eddie Baker
- Barry R. Bedre
- Joey Hill (Incumbent)
- Chad Lee
- Mike Taylor
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE - PCT. 2
Republican
- Tammy Lightfoot
- Steve Quick
Democrat
- Linda Bostick Ray
- Karen D. Taylor (Incumbent)
ANGELINA COUNTY
For early voting locations, election day locations and sample ballots, click here.
159TH DISTRICT JUDGE
- Al Charanza
- Todd Kassaw
COUNTY JUDGE
- Don Lymbery (Incumbent)
- Keith N. Wright
COUNTY COMMISSIONER - PCT. 1
- Matt Jordan
- Kent Walker
- Jason Wesley
COUNTY COMMISSIONER - PCT. 4
- Kenneth Jeffrey
- Melvin Linton Jr.
- Blake Thornton
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE - PCT. 1
- Billy S. Ball (Incumbent)
- Robert Kyle Marshall
CHEROKEE COUNTY
For early voting locations, election day locations and sample ballots, click here.
COUNTY JUDGE
- Chris Davis (Incumbent)
- Dean Dublin
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE - PCT. 2
- Michael Goff
- Amber Lusk Hood
- Don McCormack
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE - PCT. 3
- Al Chavira
- Phillip Grimes (Incumbent)
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE - PCT. 4
- Joey Ray
- Rodney Wallace (Incumbent)
GREGG COUNTY
For early voting locations, election day locations and sample ballots, click here.
COUNTY COMMISSIONER - PCT. 2
- Ray Bostick Jr.
- R. Darryl Primo (Incumbent)
COUNTY COMMISSIONER - PCT. 4
- Shannon Brown (Incumbent)
- Danny Craig Sr.
- G. Floyd
CONSTABLE - PCT. 2
- Roger Askew
- John Bisese
- Rambo Latham
- Mike Middleton
HARRISON COUNTY
For early voting locations, election day locations and sample ballots, click here.
COUNTY CLERK
- Debra Hatfield
- Liz Whipkey James (Incumbent)
COUNTY COMMISSIONER - PCT. 2
- Robert Earl Johnson III
- Zephaniah Timmins (Incumbent)
COUNTY COMMISSIONER - PCT. 4
Republican
- JR Barrett
- William Ebarb (Incumbent)
- Rayford McCracken Jr.
NACOGDOCHES COUNTY
For early voting locations, election day locations and sample ballots, click here.
COUNTY CLERK
- Hollie Hines Dewberry
- Sandy Yates
COMMISSIONER - PCT. 4
- Mark Harkness (Incumbent)
- Scott Hasley
- Roy Self
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE - PCT. 1
- Tyrone Spencer
- Kerry Williamson (Incumbent)
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE - PCT. 4
- James Carpenter
- Joey Evans
- Cindy Maddox
- Jimmy Marble
- Brian Moreau
PANOLA COUNTY
For early voting locations, election day locations and sample ballots, click here.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
- Tim Cariker
- Danny Buck Davidson (Incumbent)
- Patrice Savage
COUNTY JUDGE
- Paul Beatty
- Tonya Melton Cooke
- Gary Kelley
- Rodger G. McLane
COUNTY COURT AT LAW
- Larry Fields
- Rick McPherson
SHERIFF
- R.C. Cutter Clinton
- Sarah Fields (Incumbent)
COUNTY COMMISSIONER - PCT. 2
- Roy Carpenter
- David Cole (Incumbent)
- Brett Hawkins
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE - PCT. 1 & 4
- K. Denise Gray
- Scott Jones
- Mary Sue Kiper
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE - PCT. 2 & 3
- Shelly Avery
- Toni Hughes (Incumbent)
- Knox W. Mosby, Jr.
RAINS COUNTY
For early voting locations, election day locations and sample ballots, click here.
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE
- Paul Foley (Incumbent)
- Jenkins Franklin
COUNTY COMMISSIONER - PCT. 2
- Pat O’Donnell
- Mike Willis (Incumbent)
COUNTY COMMISSIONER - PCT. 4
- Lori Northcutt
- Dennis Wagner
RUSK COUNTY
For early voting locations, election day locations and sample ballots, click here.
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE - PCT. 5
- M. Rand Cates
- Jana Ross Enloe (Incumbent)
- Jeffery Lynn Frey
SMITH COUNTY
For early voting locations, election day locations and sample ballots, click here.
COUNTY COURT AT LAW NO. 3
- Sara Maynard
- Trevor M. Rose
- Clay White
COUNTY TREASURER
- Jamie Boersma
- Kelli R. White (Incumbent)
COUNTY COMMISSIONER - PCT. 1
- Pam Frederick
- Fritz Hager, Jr.
COUNTY COMMISSIONER - PCT. 2
- Mike Adams
- Anwar Khalifa
- John Moore
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE - PCT. 1
- Quincy Beavers Jr. (Incumbent)
- Derrick Choice
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE - PCT. 4
- Ronnie Hester
- Laney Pilcher-Barnes
- Curtis Wulf
CONSTABLE - PCT. 2
- Wayne Allen
- Deal Folmar
- Chris Roberts
DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIR
- Hank Gilbert
- Hector Garza
UPSHUR COUNTY
For early voting locations, election day locations and sample ballots, click here.
DISTRICT CLERK
- Karen Bunn (Incumbent)
- Nicole Hernandez
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE - PCT. 3
- Ashleigh Duncan
- Rhonda Welch
VAN ZANDT COUNTY
For early voting locations, election day locations and sample ballots, click here.
COUNTY JUDGE
- Judy Morris Bell
- BW Ferris
- Andrew Reese
COUNTY COMMISSIONER - PCT. 4
- Brandon Barton
- Gavin Whitaker
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE - PCT. 2
- Don Ashlock
- Sandra Plaster (Incumbent)
WOOD COUNTY
For early voting locations, election day locations and sample ballots, click here.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
- Angela Albers (Incumbent)
- Jim Wheeler
COUNTY JUDGE
- Lucy Hebron (Incumbent)
- Kevin White
COUNTY COMMISSIONER - PCT. 2
- Jerry Gaskill (Incumbent)
- Sten Langsjoen
COUNTY COMMISSIONER - PCT. 4
- Russell Acker (Incumbent)
- James Whitehurst
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE - PCT. 3
- Gary Dixon
- Jerry Parker (Incumbent)
