County authorizes voting system contracts
Voter registration deadline May 3 for May 18 primary
>> Montgomery County has renewed an existing six-figure voting system contract ahead of the 2021 election cycle.
The $474,821.75 agreement with Dominion Voting Systems Inv., of Denver, Colo., was approved in a 2-1 vote by county commissioners. While Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Gale did not make any statements on the matter concerning the countywide voting system, he did oppose the action during a roll call vote.
The Montgomery County Office of Voter Service requested the continuance of the Coloradobased company’s services for “software licensing, hardware warranties and election support services for the 2021 primary and general elections,” the contract states.
In other business, county leaders said voters must be registered for the May 18 primary election by May 3.
“We know that residents may still want to vote by mail due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Montgomery County Commissioners’ Chairwoman Valerie Arkoosh in a statement. “Rest assured, whether you choose to vote by mail or in person, your vote will be counted.”
Montgomery County voters looking to vote via mail-in ballot should apply online, by downloading a form or having an application sent to his or her home, according to Montgomery County Commissioners’ Vice Chairman Ken Lawrence Jr.
“Any resident who wants to vote by mail will need to apply again this year, even if you voted by mail in 2020,” Lawrence said in a statement.
Lawrence, who also serves as chairman of the county’s election board, directed voters to www.montcopa.org/VoteByMail for more information. Mailin
ballots will be accepted until 5 p.m. on May. 11. Military and overseas absentee ballots will be accepted until May 25, according to county officials.
For those seeking to cast their ballot in person for the May 18 primary election, the polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day, according to county officials. To learn more about polling locations and other frequently asked questions, visit www. montcopa.org/VoteInPerson.
In the efforts to prepare area residents for the
Nov. 2 general election, officials outlined the following dates:
• Voter registration deadline is Oct. 18, postmarks not applying
• Mail-in or absentee ballot deadline is by 5 p.m. on Oct. 26
• Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 2 for the general election
• Military and overseas absentee ballots will be received until Nov. 9
For more information about voter registration and the 2021 elections, visit www.montcopa.org/VoterRegistration.
At least five people were killed and dozens injured Thursday in a massive crash involving 75 to 100 vehicles on an icy Texas interstate, police said, as a winter storm dropped freezing rain, sleet and snow on parts of the U.S.
At the scene of the crash on Interstate 35 near Fort Worth, semitrailers, cars and trucks had crashed into one another and had turned every which way, with some vehicles on top of others.
“The vehicles are just mangled,” said Matt Zavadsky, spokesman for MedStar, which provides the ambulance service for the area. “Multiple tow trucks are on scene. It’s going to take a lot to disentangle this wreck.”
Thirty-six people were taken to hospitals from the crash, several with critical injuries, Zavadsky said.
Police set up a reunification center for family members at a community center.
“The roadway was so treacherous from the ice that several of the first responders were falling on the scene,” Zavadsky said.
He said his crews carry a sand and salt mixture in the ambulances, which they began using at the scene. He said one of the ambulances was hit, but it had only minor damage and the crew members were fine.
Farther south, in Austin, more than two dozen vehicles were involved in a pileup on an icy road, and one person was injured, emergency officials said.
Storm warnings
Elsewhere, ice storm warnings were in effect from Arkansas to Kentucky, while another winter storm was predicted to bring snow to Mid-Atlantic states, the National Weather Service said.
More than 125,000 homes and businesses were without electricity Thursday morning, largely in Kentucky and West Virginia, according to the website poweroutage.us, which tracks utility reports.
Meanwhile, officials in central Kentucky were urging people to stay home, due to icy conditions.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said state offices would be closed due to the weather. He declared a state of emergency, which he said would free up funding and
help agencies coordinate as they respond to reports of slick roads and downed power lines.
Crews were responding to numerous calls of
downed icy tree limbs and power lines, Lexington police said in a tweet that urged people not to travel “unless absolutely necessary.”