By RAY QUIROGA
publisher@sbnewspaper.com
Early voting for the contentious 2026 General Election began on October 19, 2026, and will run through October 30 locally at the San Benito Community Building, 210 E. Heywood St.
Polling places are open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. October 19-23. On October 24, the San Benito Community Building will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Most other sites will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. that day.
On October 25, 2026, all polling locations will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. On October 26-30, 2026, they will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Polling hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Registered voters can vote at any precinct in the county. Valid identification is required to vote in Texas.
In the area, Election Day polling places include Ed Downs Elementary, Fred Booth Elementary, La Encantada Elementary, La Paloma Middle School, the San Benito Community Building on Heywood, and Sullivan Environmental Science Academy.
Other Early Voting and Election Day polling places include the Los Indios Community Center at 309 Heywood St., Los Indios; the Rio Hondo Municipal Center at 121 N. Arroyo Blvd., Rio Hondo; and the Los Fresnos Community Center at 204 N. Brazil St., Los Fresnos.
Local races include Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3, Place 2, pitting Republican Gilbert Garcia, Jr., against local Democrat Jessica Alvarado Gonzales.
Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3, Place 1, sees another local, Esteban “Steve” Rodriguez, a Republican, against Noe Alaniz, Jr. of Rio Hondo, a Democrat.
Meanwhile, for County Judge, Mauro Garza, a Republican, faces Esteban “Steve” Guerra, a Democrat.
Member of the State Board of Education, District 2, sees Victoria Hinojosa (REP) face Thomas Ray Garcia (DEM).
United States Representative, District 34, has Eric Flores (REP) facing incumbent Vicente Gonzalez (DEM), Chris Royal (LIB), and the Upper Valley’s Eddie Espinoza (GRN).
San Benito’s Janie Lopez, former San Benito CISD Board Trustee, is seeking to retain her State Senate District 37 seat against Democratic challenger Oziel Ochoa Jr.
For more information, visit Cameronvotes.com or call (956) 544-0809.