Burkeville, Texas Public Records

More information and election updates can be found through the Texas Secretary of State elections division website at https://www.sos.texas.gov/elections/. Residents can register to vote online through the state of Texas online voter registration system at https://www.votetexas.gov, or by completing a paper voter registration application available from the Newton County Clerk, libraries, and many state agencies. The registration deadline in Texas is 30 days before an election. Applicants must be U.S. Citizens, at least 18 years old by Election Day, residents of the county where they register, not finally convicted of a felony (or if convicted, have fully completed all punishment including parole or probation), and not declared mentally incapacitated by a court. A Texas driver's license or state-issued identification number is required to register online, or applicants may provide the last four digits of their Social Security number. As an unincorporated community, Burkeville does not hold municipal elections for mayor or city council. Residents instead vote in Newton County-level elections (County Judge, County Commissioners, Sheriff, County Clerk, District Clerk, Tax Assessor-Collector, Justices of the Peace, Constables), state legislative races (Texas House of Representatives District 18 and Texas Senate District 3), and statewide/federal races (Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives District 36). County offices such as County Judge and Sheriff are elected in even-numbered years, typically during the November general election in midterm and presidential election cycles. Voters can find their assigned polling place by using the Texas Secretary of State's online polling place locator at https://teamrv-mvp.sos.texas.gov/MVP/mvp.do or by contacting the Newton County Clerk at (409) 379-5341. Early voting for county elections is typically held at the Newton County Courthouse and possibly additional locations announced prior to each election, with early voting beginning 17 days before Election Day and ending four days before Election Day. Election Day polling places are assigned by precinct, and voters must vote at their designated precinct location on Election Day. Texas election records that are public include voter registration lists (available with restrictions to campaigns, political parties, and registered requestors), precinct-level election results, candidate filings and applications, campaign finance reports filed with the Texas Ethics Commission (searchable at https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/search/cf/), and records of early voting and Election Day ballot counts. Individual voter history (which elections a person voted in, but not how they voted) is also public, though protected from commercial use. All U.S. House seats, including Texas District 36, will be contested. One U.S. Senate seat may be on the ballot if it is the cycle for that seat (Texas U.S. Senate terms are staggered). Any local bond issues, constitutional amendments, or special district propositions will also appear on the ballot. Texas offers limited mail-in (absentee) voting compared to many states. To vote by mail, a voter must meet one of the following criteria: be 65 years of age or older by Election Day, be sick or disabled, be out of the county during the entire early voting period and on Election Day, or be confined in jail but otherwise eligible. Mail ballot applications must be submitted to the Newton County Early Voting Clerk (the Newton County Clerk) and received (not postmarked) by the 11th day before Election Day. Completed mail ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received by the county by 5:00 p.m. The day after Election Day, or hand-delivered by 7:00 p.m. On Election Day. Applications and instructions are available from the Newton County Clerk at (409) 379-5341 or online through the Texas Secretary of State at https://www.sos.texas.gov/elections/voter/reqabbm.shtml.