The Round Rock City Council voted Thursday, July 9, to hold the general and special elections originally scheduled for May 2020 on May 1, 2021.
Council Members voted 6-1 on the new date, with Council Member Hilda Montgomery casting the lone dissenting vote.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a proclamation in March allowing the postponement of the May 2 local elections due to concerns of spreading COVID-19 and removing the duty of County Elections Departments to contract with municipalities to hold May elections. The Williamson County Elections Department notified the City that County officials would not be administering elections in May.
Round Rock and several other cities wrote a joint letter to the Governor’s Office requesting a proclamation that would allow Round Rock and other public entities to conduct elections in August.
“Due to circumstances related to COVID-19, the City was forced to consider several options for holding our elections,” Morgan said. “The motion presented and voted upon at last night’s Council meeting moved the election to the uniform date that occurs in May by City Charter and ordinance.”
City Attorney Steve Sheets, as requested by Mayor Morgan, prepared a legal memorandum summarizing relevant state statues, as well as City Charter provisions and ordinances, with respect to holding City elections.
The ballot includes three City Council seats for Mayor, Place 1 and Place 4 and seven proposed amendments to the City Charter. Mayor Craig Morgan and Council Members Will Peckham and Tammy Young will continue to serve in those positions until they are filled in May 2021. Those elected will serve the remaining two years of the three-year terms. Place 3 and 5 Council seats will also be on the May 2021 ballot as scheduled. For the postponed 2020 election, the City of Round Rock is preserving all candidate filings and ballot order actions that have already been taken. The postponement does not have the effect of reopening candidate filings.
For more information, visit roundrocktexas.gov/elections.
