Polling places in Montgomery County saw a steady stream of voters arriving to cast their ballots for the Nov. 7 election, officials said.
At The Woodlands’ South County Community Center, voter turnout was busier than expected, Election Judge Scott Schultz said. As the polling place opened its doors, there was already a line, he said. The community center serves as a polling site for three precincts, which is the reason for high turnout, Schultz said.
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The Woodlands’ community center and nearby McCullough Junior High polling locations had seen a combined 1,580 voters by 5:30 p.m., with 822 voters at the junior high and 758 at the community center.
“We had a couple of people waiting outside when we started up,” Larry Kremer, alternate judge for the junior high polling place, said.
Many voters showed up to decide the fate of Conroe ISD’s $1.9 billion bond package, which includes four propositions that CISD officials say would help with the rapid growth in the state’s ninth-largest school district.
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With early and absentee votes in, preliminary tallies showed support for all four propositions. Nearly all propositions had roughly 60 percent of voter support, with Proposition D showing narrow approval.
Proposition A, which includes the largest expenditures for new schools and major renovations, saw roughly 62 percent of early voter approval. The proposition is the largest on the ballot at $1.8 billion.
“Conroe is growing so much,” said Lisa Gertsh, 61, a Woodlands resident. “We need to fund our schools more…education is what it’s all about.”
Spring residents Tim and Daphne Freese shared the sentiment.
“We have grandkids in Conroe ISD,” Tim Freese, 64, said. “The bond’s impacting the building of a new school and the expansion of school facilities. It’s something that we’re considering important.”
Proposition B allocates $40 million to technology and devices including iPads, laptop and desktop computers. Early tallies showed roughly 60% of voters approved of the proposition. Proposition C would provide $112.9 million for a third ag barn and 16 PE classrooms and elementary school gyms. Early tallies showed roughly 60% of voters approved of the proposition.
Proposition D would earmark $22.9 million for a new pool and renovations to the district’s natatorium near Woodforest Stadium. The proposition showed narrow support with 51%.
Approval of the bond package could mean a 2 cent raise in the district’s tax rate. For 2024, the board of trustees lowered the rate from $1.11 per $100 in property value to 96.21 cents per $100.
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While there aren’t many things on the ballot that speak to The Woodlands, resident Rafael Jimenez said it was important to show up on Election Day.
“I do understand that local elections are extremely important,” Jimenez, 19, said. “I think, especially with younger people, it’s something that we don’t show up (for) much.”
Jimenez said there were a few state propositions he was paying close attention to, as well as Conroe ISD’s $1.9 billion bond package.
The Woodlands resident Kimbra Quezergue, 33, said she typically votes during early voting and was worried there would be a long line at the South County Community Center on election day. Instead, she said she was happy that it wasn’t too busy.
“Generally, I always try to support and come out and vote,” Quezergue said. “I think all the state propositions are … things that I think, as a state, we should take seriously because they can actually impact us.”
As a Woodlands resident, she said it was important to decide on leadership for the township. The Woodlands Township had seven candidates vying for three board of directors seats in this election.
Incumbent Shelley Sekula-Gibbs held a narrow lead for Position 5, with 51% approval over Tricia Danto. Current board chairman Ann Snyder held a more decisive lead over Thomas A. Chumbley with 85%.
Position 7’s share was split into three candidates. Heiser held an early lead with 55% of the vote, while Ann Perry maintained 39%. Just over 550 early and absentee voters chose Thomas Chumbley, who held 6.2% of the vote.
