Bexar County redraws 43% of districts and picks new judge

Voters in Bexar County will see new names and new districts on their ballots this November. The changes stem from a recent redrawing of congressional lines and a wave of primary upsets. Early voting runs from Oct. 19 through Oct. 30.

The new Republican-drawn congressional maps shifted the voting district for roughly 43% of Bexar County residents. These voters were in a different district just two years ago. Republican strategist Craig Murphy said the changes hit San Antonio harder than other parts of the state. He noted that redistricting shook up the entire map of Texas, but San Antonio felt the most impact.

The shift in congressional boundaries is part of a larger turnover in state leadership. Texas is on track to elect at least five new statewide officials this year. Incumbents left to run for other seats or lost in the primary. This includes races for governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general. The state is also choosing a new U.S. senator for the first time in many years.

Locally, Bexar County is electing a new county judge and district attorney. Most other countywide offices are also on the ballot. Voters will also decide on three seats on the Bexar Central Appraisal District board. Several local school board races are included as well.

To prepare, voters can download a personalized sample ballot from the Bexar County Elections Department. This tool requires the voter to be registered at their current address. The registration deadline for this election was Oct. 5. If a voter is registered at an old address within the county, they can still cast a ballot. An election official will ask about the move at the polling place. The voter then fills out a statement of residence to update their registration.

Voters with a status of 'suspense' on the rolls can also vote. Texas flags these voters to keep the rolls current, often because they may have moved without updating their address. Elections Administrator Michele Carew said these voters should not panic. Carew explained that they will not vote provisionally. Instead, they will complete a statement of residence and then vote a regular ballot.

Once in the voting booth, voters can only use paper notes. Phones and tablets are prohibited. The San Antonio Report offers a 2026 Midterm Election Voter Guide to help voters learn more about the candidates in each race. This guide is available after downloading the sample ballot.

Early voting locations vary by day. Bexar County voters can choose from any of the designated early voting sites. A map of these locations is available online. The next step for voters is to confirm their registration status and download their specific sample ballot before the Oct. 30 deadline.