This Spring, Arlington voters will go to the polls to elect four City Council members. Council seats are open for Districts 1, 2, 6 and 7.

The District 1 City Council member is a single member district representative elected by voters in far north Arlington. The District 2 City Council member is a single member district representative elected by voters in southwest Arlington. Districts 6 and 7 are at-large districts elected by all Arlington voters.

Election Day is Saturday, May 15. For a list of qualifications for office, go to www.ci.arlington.tx.us/citysecretary/qualifications.html .

In the City Secretary’s Office on the first floor of City Hall, located at 101 W. Abram St., candidates may complete the application process to appear on the election ballot. The last day to file as a candidate for the Arlington City Council Election is 5 p.m. Monday, March 15.

A list of candidates can be found at the City’s website by going to www.ci.arlington.tx.us/citysecretary/candidates.html. The list will be updated daily.

According to City Secretary Barbara Heptig, new state election laws will change the way municipalities conduct elections. For example, cities will be required to wait a minimum of eight days after the election to canvass or certify election results. Cities will be required to wait a minimum of 20 days after they canvas results to conduct a runoff election.

Another significant change prohibits political campaigning, including sign postings, within 100 feet of a polling location during early voting. Until now, the requirement was 30 feet.

Because of redistricting, some voting precincts in Arlington have changed. Eleven new precincts have been created and five have been absorbed by existing precincts. A new precinct map and polling location information will soon appear on the City’s website. For Election Day polling locations, voters can go to the City’s website or call the City Secretary’s Office at 817-459-6186.

"The most important information we are trying to get to voters is the facts about the Help America Vote Act," Heptig said.

The recently enacted Help America Vote Act requires every voter to provide a voter registration certificate or identification at the time of voting in order for his or her vote to be counted. Provisional ballots will be set aside to certify eligibility.

"It is important for every Arlington voter to have either a voter registration certificate or a standard form of picture identification, such as a driver’s license, in order for his or her ballot to be counted on Election Day," the City Secretary said.

Early voting will begin Wednesday, April 28. The last day to vote early is Tuesday, May 11. Election Day is Saturday, May 15.

The City Secretary’s Office is looking for bilingual men and women to serve as election clerks during Early Voting and on Election Day. Spanish and Vietnamese languages are preferred. The pay is $8 per hour. For more information, call 817-459-6186.

April 28 - 30 Wednesday - Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
May 3-8 Monday - Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
May 10-11 Monday and Tuesday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Bob Duncan Community Center, 2800 S. Center St., 76014
Cliff Nelson Recreation Center, 4600 Bardin Road, 76017
Kooken Education Center, 423 N. Center St., 76011
Sherrod Elementary School, 2626 Lincoln Drive, 76006
Turning Point High School, 5618 W. Arkansas Lane, 76016