Today marks the final opportunity for Harris County residents to participate in the mayoral election for the fourth largest city in the nation. As reported by the Harris County Elections Office, approximately 132,000 voters have already exercised their right to vote.

For those heading to the polls on this Saturday runoff, here’s a comprehensive guide to ensure a smooth voting experience.

Voting Details:
Polls are scheduled to open at 7 a.m. and will remain open until 7 p.m. To find the nearest polling location, voters can input their address [here]. Additionally, voters have the flexibility to cast their ballots at any polling location. All voting materials, including information and ballot sheets, are available in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Vietnamese.

Required Documentation:
Similar to previous elections, voters must present an acceptable form of identification. Acceptable forms include a state-issued ID, a handgun license, a U.S. military ID, a passport, or any citizenship document featuring a photo. A sample ballot is also permitted for reference inside the voting booth.

Candidates on the Ballot:
The mayoral runoff features U.S. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and State Sen. John Whitmire, both seasoned public officials. They are competing to succeed the outgoing Mayor Turner, who faces term limits after eight years in office. Turner has endorsed Jackson Lee, who secured 35.7 percent of the vote in the general election, placing second. Meanwhile, Whitmire, with 42.7 percent of the vote, has been a frontrunner despite recent disagreements with the outgoing mayor.

In addition to the mayoral race, the City Controller position, akin to the city’s chief financial officer, has candidates Orlando Sanchez and Chris Hollins on the ballot. Hollins led the general election with 44 percent of the vote, while Sanchez secured 27 percent.

Other contested races include various city council seats. In District D, incumbent Carolyn Evans-Shabazz faces Travis McGee. District G sees incumbent Mary Nan Huffman competing with attorney Tony Buzbee. Mario Castillo and Cynthia Reyes-Revilla are running for the open seat in District H, a race that stirred controversy due to a message from Reyes-Revilla’s campaign, which critics deemed as a “homophobic dog whistle.”

The runoff ballot also features four at-large council positions, providing voters with a range of choices beyond the mayoral and CFO races.

Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth issues a reminder to voters about the upcoming Joint Runoff Election, scheduled for Saturday, December 9. With 450 vote centers operational from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. throughout the county, voters can conveniently locate their nearest voting venue and check estimated wait times by visiting this link.

The crucial decisions of Houston voters extend to half of the city’s government-elected positions, encompassing the Mayor, Controller, four at-large council members, and three single-member district council members. Residents in Houston Council Districts D, G, and H will find seven contests on their ballot, while other Houston voters will encounter six. Additionally, District 4 voters in Baytown will elect a council member, and Bellaire voters will select a new Mayor. Explore sample ballots at www.HarrisVotes.com.

Clerk Hudspeth emphasizes that only citizens registered to vote within the legal boundaries of the Cities of Houston, Bellaire, and Baytown are eligible to cast a ballot. She clarifies that a “Houston” postal address does not guarantee residency within Houston proper.

In the lead-up to the Joint Runoff Election, nearly 132,000 citizens participated in early voting, constituting approximately 11% of eligible registered voters. Notably, this surpasses the early voting numbers from the 2015 and 2019 runoff elections.

Reflecting on the previous election, Clerk Hudspeth notes that over 453,000 people voted on November 7. While predicting the exact runoff turnout remains challenging, she encourages everyone to exercise their right to vote.

For timely updates on the election results, interested individuals can visit www.HarrisVotes.com. Unofficial results will begin to be posted after 7 p.m. on election night, starting with Early Voting and Ballot-By-Mail results. The official results will follow once the canvass is completed.