BEAUMONT, Texas — The Jefferson County Clerk's office is hard at work already preparing for the March primaries.
From voter registration changes to applications for mail-in ballots, there's a lot to prepare.
They have been working since November 2023 to make sure the next election goes smoothly.
"Your vote matters, so even though, you think it doesn't it's the little things that make a difference," said Jefferson County Chief Deputy County Clerk Laurie Leister.
The staff at the county clerk are busy processing hundreds of mail in ballot applications.
"So far 159 democrats, and 76 republicans," Leister said.
But there's a problem. 10% of mail in applicants didn't check off their party.
"Please make sure that you pick which party you're gonna vote in. And we have to have that to know which ballot we're gonna send you. And also please remember to mark that you want a ballot for a runoff, and you want a ballot an annual mail ballot," she said.
It's important to remember about a primary election that you don't have to vote for your party. You can choose either a republican or a democratic ballot.
"You can vote in the democrat primary in March, and you can vote in the democrat primary if there's a runoff. And you can vote for a republican or a democrat, or an independent. or whomever you want to in November. That has no bearing on what you do," said Leister.
The primary election narrows down the candidates to determine who will be in the general election in November.
"You're voting for tax assessor this year locally, sheriff this year locally," Leister told 12News.
The next order of business is testing voting machines. On Thursday, January 25 both parties will conduct a logic and accuracy test.
"There'll be republicans there, and democrats there. And they will be actually play voting their ballots to make sure that the equipment is working correctly. This is a public test," Leister said.
They're also training 300 friendly poll workers who'll help out on Election Day.
In Jefferson County, there are about 148,000 registered voters. You can register to vote here.
Poll testing is open to the public on January 25 at 9 a.m. at the Voting Barn located at 7963 Viterbo Road in Beaumont.
No matter where you live, you have until February 5 to register to vote in the March primary.