Missouri City and Stafford residents must register to vote by Monday, Oct. 5 to cast a ballot in the Nov. 3 midterm election. The deadline applies to new registrations and address updates.
The election will decide who leads Fort Bend County government. That matters locally: the county judge presides over Commissioners Court, which just approved an $841 million budget and a 1.2% property tax rate cut affecting every homeowner in Missouri City and Stafford's Fort Bend County portions.
Early voting runs Oct. 19 through Oct. 30 at any polling place in Fort Bend County, according to CW39 Houston. Election Day polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Anyone in line by 7 p.m. can still cast a ballot. The deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot is Friday, Oct. 23.
Voters can check their registration status at VoteTexas.gov, the Texas Secretary of State's online portal.
County judge race
Interim County Judge Daniel Wong, the Republican nominee and former Sugar Land City Council member, faces Democratic nominee Dexter McCoy, 34, a Precinct 4 county commissioner.
McCoy won the Democratic runoff in May after defeating Rachelle Carter, Style Magazine reported. If elected, he would become one of the youngest county judges in Fort Bend history and the county's first Black county judge, according to Style Magazine.
Wong won the Republican primary after defeating former County Judge KP George, who placed last with 8.4% of the vote in a five-candidate field. George was convicted of felony money laundering and sentenced June 16 to 180 days in jail and five years' probation. George is appealing.
Wong was appointed interim county judge in April after George's suspension. County Attorney Bridgette Smith-Lawson has filed a civil lawsuit challenging Wong's authority to serve. That trial is scheduled for November, after the election.
The two candidates already clashed over the county budget. On Thursday, Sept. 10, the court approved the $841 million spending plan on a 3-2 party-line vote, with Wong, Commissioner Vincent Morales and Commissioner Andy Meyers in favor and McCoy and Commissioner Grady Prestage dissenting. The same session approved the tax rate decrease, Houston Public Media reported.
"Residents could look at this and say, 'This is politicians being politicians,' and they would not be wrong. It's absurd," McCoy said at an Aug. 25 Commissioners Court session. "This is not why I ran for office … but this is the fight that we're in the middle of."
Statewide races
Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Republican nominee, faces state Rep. James Talarico, the Democratic nominee, for the U.S. Senate. Gov. Greg Abbott, the Republican incumbent, faces state Rep. Gina Hinojosa in the governor's race.
What to bring
Texas law requires one of seven approved photo IDs to vote in person, including a Texas driver's license, U.S. passport or U.S. military ID with photo. Voters without an approved ID can complete a Reasonable Impediment Declaration and present a supporting document such as a utility bill or bank statement.
The Fort Bend County Elections Administration office is at 3730 Bamore Rd. in Rosenberg. Specific early voting locations have not yet been published. Residents can call 281-341-8670 or email [email protected] for updates.
