Hidalgo County voters prepare to head to the polls on Saturday

MCALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — May 3rd is Election Day in Hidalgo County, where races are being held in McAllen, San Juan, Sullivan City, and Progreso.

Hidalgo County residents like David Martinez are anticipating the big day.

“It is just tradition for me," Martinez said. "Sometimes I vote early, but mostly I wait for the day.”

Martinez says it is sad that turnout tends to be lower for local races. He believes these races are the most impactful.

“They are the ones that affect us mostly; although, we might vote for president or senators or whatever, you know they are still far away," Martinez added. "These are people that are closer to us, they are more accessible to us, and I think they will listen more to us than the president or senator.”

Other residents ValleyCentral spoke to say they did not know about the upcoming race.

“They don’t get promoted that much," McAllen resident Gloria Galindo said. "I didn’t even know there were elections. They don’t push it out there, unlike the presidential election we all go crazy about."

In Hidalgo County, 8,031 voters have placed their vote in person during early voting.

Now that she knows, Galindo says she is ready to vote.

The three sites with the most votes are the Lark Community Center, where more than 1,800 residents have voted.

The San Juan Memorial Library and Sullivan Fire Department come in second and third, as they also have municipal races.

Hidalgo County Elections Administrator Hilda Salinas hopes numbers are greater on Saturday since they have a county-wide program.

“You can cast your ballot at any location in Hidalgo County," Salinas said. "So, for example, let's say you reside in McAllen, but you find yourself in the city of Weslaco or Progreso, you can visit the polling location there, and you will be able to find your ballot in the McAllen ISD race.”

Salinas says Hidalgo County will open 26 polling locations and hopes the forecasted rain does not discourage people from voting.

“Rain or shine, we should be there," Galindo said.

Polls on Saturday will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.