Ellis County Primary runoff election set for July 14

WAXAHACHIE – Even though most residents in Ellis and Dallas County are aware the May citywide elections for city council and independent school district seats have been moved to November, it was not possible to do that with the upcoming primary runoff election.

That election, which was scheduled for May 26 was postponed and rescheduled for July 14.

The seat that most Ellis County residents will want to pay attention to in the rescheduled runoff is the Ellis County Sheriff. 

The primary ended with current Ellis County Sheriff Chuck Edge and challenger Brad Norman, a former deputy sheriff in Ellis County vying for the sheriff’s seat.

Governor Greg Abbott issued the proclamation postponing the runoff primary election until July 14 to match the same date as the special election for Texas State Senate District 14. 

It was postponed in conjunction with recent COVID-19 scare, which was the reason for the postponement of the May elections as well.

Abbott signed the order for the postponement under the emergency powers of his previous statewide disaster declaration.

Ellis County Commissioner Precinct 3 Paul Perry, said he is concerned about the precedent that Governor Abbott is setting with the postponement of the elections.

“We ask individuals in other countries like Iraq and Afghanistan to put their life on the line to vote in elections that are dangerous in some cases, and yet we postpone our elections due to health concerns.”

The Ellis County election website reads “The postponement of this election serves to help fulfill the Governor’s recent executive orders mandating certain obligation for Texans that are aimed at slowing the spread of Covid-19, including the encouragement of social distancing.” 

Holding the runoff in May would cause the congregation of large gatherings of people in confined spaces and cause numerous election workers to come into close proximity with others.

The order said this close contact would “threaten the health and safety of many Texans.”

Early voting for the postponed runoff primary election on July 14 will begin Monday, July 6.