Smith County Elections Office remains open

TYLER — One Smith County Elections Office employee has tested positive for COVID-19, and out of an abundance of caution, six others are awaiting testing. However, in a Tuesday press release, Smith County says the Elections Office remains open. One employee did not have contact with the COVID-19 patient and does not have symptoms is still working. The office has undergone a thorough cleaning and has been disinfected. Smith County Elections is working to bring the ballot board members together for a safe meeting to qualify and count the needed ballots. By state statute, the deadline for a ballot board to meet to qualify and count the ballots is next Monday. The deadline to canvas the election is next Tuesday.