Voters in Port Aransas should carefully check their ballot when they are voting, especially if they want to be sure to vote on the proposed $4.9 million general obligation bond issue for streets.
County Clerk Diana Barrera issued a caution and urged voters to be sure and ask questions of precinct personnel when they go to vote.
The warning came after residents reported that they missed the vote on the street bond issue when they voted early.
“I voted the ticket, and later realized that I didn’t get a ballot to vote on the bond. It’s kind of irritating and I feel disenfranchised,” said Jack Dreessen, who voted early at the Port Aransas Community Center.
Another resident, Arnold Govella, said he noticed later when he compared notes with his wife that he had not voted for the street bond issue.
“It would be nice if they would post a notice. How do we know if we have the right ballot? There should be a warning to the voters,” Govella said.
There was a problem with the ballot on the opening day of early voting, when five people missed a chance to vote on the streets bond issue because they had the wrong ballot.
But Precinct 19 Chairman Victor Bird said voters have since been given the proper ballot. He said voters could be rushing through it too quickly and hitting the cast vote button before they see the streets bond issue on the ballot.
“They’re not completing them. We make certain they get the right ballot. We ask if you live in the city limits,” Bird said.
Bird said there have been no complaints at the polling site, and he urges voters to ask questions if they need more information about the ballot before they cast their vote.
“Once they cast their vote there’s nothing we can do,” Bird said.
Barrera said a ballot could be canceled if there is a question, but not after a vote is cast.
“A straight ticket vote has no bearing, you still navigate to get to local voting, such as bond propositions,” Barrera said.
“Check the summary screen at the very end,” she said.
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