Early voting is underway in both Canadian and Higgins for the special May 2 election to consolidate the two school districts and will continue through next Tuesday, April 28.

Registered voters in Canadian and Higgins ISDs will have the opportunity to cast their ballots, determining whether Higgins will consolidate with Canadian public schools when the 2019-20 school year ends and those campuses close.

School officials in both districts have decided to pursue the consolidation vote as scheduled, despite an executive order issued by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott advising that all May 2 elections be postponed until the Nov. 3 general election. His order was followed by guidance from the Texas secretary of state, advising election officials to act immediately to reschedule those elections.

The delay would have left the fate of Higgins students undetermined when school resumes next fall—despite the decision by both school boards to consolidate subject to voter approval.

The determination of Higgins and Canadian school trustees to proceed despite the order raised the possibility that either or both elections could be subject to a challenge. CISD Superintendent Lynn Pulliam appealed to state officials for relief, and finally—with the help of state Sen. Kel Seliger and state Rep. Ken King—got the attention of the Texas Education Agency’s Deputy Commissioner of Governance and Accountability Jeff Cottrill.

Cottrill said he would provide information on how to request a waiver allowing the consolidation election to continue despite the secretary of state’s directive to postpone.

In order to approve a resolution requesting the waiver from the Texas commissioner of education, both the district’s site-based decision-making committee (SBDM) and board of trustees will meet in open meetings tonight, Thursday, April 23. The committee meeting at 5 pm will be followed by the school board meeting at 6 pm.

Pulliam informed his board last weekend that information flyers about the proposed consolidation would be mailed Monday, April 20, with early voting beginning at 8 am that same day. At midweek, 86 ballots had already been cast at the Canadian administration building in the school consolidation election.

Early voting continues each weekday, from 8 am-5 pm, through Tuesday, April 28. Voting will be conducted on Election Day, Saturday, May 2, in the CHS foyer, from 7 am to 7 pm.

In acknowledgment of the public health concerns that led to the governor’s order to postpone, provisions have been made for hand sanitizer and masks to be available to voters during early voting and on Election Day. Curbside voting will also be available upon request.

Care is being taken to sanitize the ballot iPads and stylus pens after each vote. Social distancing will also be observed at both the early voting and Election Day polling locations.

GRAPHIC CREATED BY CHERI SMITH | THE RECORD