It’s worth noting no cell phones, smart watches, cameras, tablets, laptops, sound recorders, drones or other wireless communication devices or recorders are permitted within 100 feet of a polling station as the Spring 2025 election cycle comes to a close Saturday.
Polls will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. across the state tomorrow, May 3, for Election Day – that includes Kilgore City Hall – and there’s a clear ‘You Shall Not Pass’ radius marked from the entrance of Kilgore City Hall.
Christina Worrell Adkins is the Director of Elections for the Texas Secretary of State, and she issued her standard Election Advisory covering ‘Certain Activities in Vicinity of Polling Places’ on April 17. Likewise, this week City of Kilgore personnel posted the second round of Campaign Finance Reports for the sole contested race on the municipality’s portion of the ballot – Mayor – including the candidates’ stated political contributions and expenditures.
Per state regulations, simply put, candidates who have an opponent in the uniform election are required (along with political committees) to submit three such reports: one 30 days before Election Day (that was April 3), a second eight days ahead of time (by April 25) and another semiannual report in July (for all local officeholders).
In the race for Kilgore Mayor, incumbent Mayor Ronnie Spradlin faces challenger Darrin Mallet for the seat. Also on city council, Alan VanDoren is unchallenged in his re-election bid to Place 2. The April 3 campaign finance reports for the contested spot are public record and available for review for Spradlin (download here) and Mallett (download here) via the City of Kilgore’s Election Information page / Campaign Finance Reports 2025 Election.
Earlier this week, on April 28, the city posted the mayoral candidates’ second round of reports. View Mallett’s here (filed April 23) and Spradlin’s here (filed April 24).
For Kilgore ISD School Board, incumbent Rachel Harrington is unchallenged in her re-election bid to Place 6. In contested races, Place 5’s ticket includes newcomers Ubaldo Meraz and Johna Tritt while Place 7 incumbent Dana Sneed faces challenger Rudy Galvan.
For the Kilgore College Board of Trustees, residents in the Central Zone (Kilgore ISD residents, including those in Rusk County) will cast a vote in a three-way race for Unit 3, Place 9 between Jeannie Johnson, Verenice Ordorica and Ruth F. Williams.
In the North Zone encompassing Sabine ISD, Gladewater ISD and White Oak ISD, Jason Steele will join the board soon (Unit 2, Place 8) after challenger Larry A. Woodfin conceded upon moving out of the district. (SISD residents in Kilgore vote at Kilgore City Hall). Janice Bagley is unopposed in her re-election to South Zone (Leverett’s Chapel ISD, West Rusk ISD, Overton ISD) Unit 1, Place 7.
Find Kilgore College candidates’ campaign finance reports here.
For curious poll watchers, find Adkins complete Election Advisory here.
Voters across Texas will see candidates and political signage near polling locations on Election Day, but among her reminders in mid-April Adkins underscored the Texas Election Code’s rules against electioneering within 100-feet of the polls.
“During the voting period and inside this protected area, it is prohibited to electioneer, including expressing preference for or against any candidate, measure, or political party, regardless of whether they are or are not on the ballot, or relating to the conduct of an election.”
That includes a prohibition against sound amplifications devices with 1,000 of the polling place.
Outside the legal radius, “An entity that owns or controls a public building being used as a polling place may not prohibit electioneering outside of the 100-foot distance marker. However, the entity may enact reasonable regulations in regards to the time, place, and manner of electioneering.”
Local election judges have authority on-site, including when a voter’s car becomes a satellite polling spot.
“If a voter is physically unable to enter the polling place without personal assistance or likelihood of injuring the voter’s health, an election officer shall deliver a ballot or voting machine to the voter at the polling place entrance or curb on the voter’s request,” Adkins noted. “When individuals vote curbside, their car becomes their voting station. Curbside voters must be afforded the opportunity to vote their ballot privately (in the same way as a voter in the voting booth) and thus are entitled to vote without the interference of campaigns or bystanders.
“Per Section 32.075 of the Election Code, the presiding judge has the authority to preserve order and prevent breaches of peace if there are individuals harassing voters while they vote curbside.”
Exit polling is permitted within the 100-foot boundary at the discretion of election judges.
