Community Transformation Alliance and Local Officials Continue Efforts to Expand Early Voting Locations in Eagle Pass
By Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2026 Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.
The Community Transformation Alliance (CTA), working alongside City of Eagle Pass officials and the Maverick County Elections Department, continues efforts to expand early voting locations throughout the community, an initiative aimed at improving voter accessibility and participation in future elections.
The concept is not new. As far back as 2020, community advocate Elishoel Reyes Diaz presented the idea of expanding voting locations to the Maverick County Commissioners Court and City of Eagle Pass officials, emphasizing the importance of providing residents with greater accessibility to the electoral process.
More than six years later, the proposal continues gaining attention as CTA and local government representatives work toward potentially establishing additional early voting locations for the May 2027 Eagle Pass municipal election.
CTA renewed its advocacy more than seven months ago when representatives appeared before the Eagle Pass City Council to address concerns regarding limited polling locations and the difficulties encountered by senior citizens, individuals with disabilities and residents lacking reliable transportation.
Those efforts recently resulted in discussions involving Mayor Aaron Valdez, City Manager Homero Balderas, Councilwoman Jessica Rey Ramon, Assistant City Manager Placido Madera, City Attorney Sofia Garcia and City Secretary Erika Rodriguez.
Maverick County Elections Department Director Mariana Flores-Garcia and representatives of the South Texas All Abilities Center administration also participated.
The discussions centered on three potential early voting locations, including the Multi-Purpose Center, Cruz Muñoz Gymnasium and the new Alfonso Mallen Gymnasium.
Officials are evaluating whether two or three locations could operate during the upcoming municipal election, depending on the availability of election workers, voting equipment, financial resources and compliance with state and federal accessibility requirements.
No additional locations have received final approval.
Supporters believe expanding early voting opportunities would reduce transportation difficulties, shorten travel distances and provide residents with more convenient opportunities to exercise their constitutional right to vote.
Accessibility remains a central consideration, particularly for voters with disabilities who must be able to enter polling facilities and cast their ballots safely and independently.
The Maverick County Elections Department has expressed its willingness to continue coordinating with city officials and participating organizations as the proposal advances through the evaluation process.
The initiative also represents a continuation of the efforts introduced by Reyes Diaz in 2020, demonstrating how a proposal presented to local government more than six years ago remains relevant to ongoing discussions about improving the election process.
Beyond the upcoming municipal election, CTA and participating officials are also exploring the possibility of eventually expanding early voting locations throughout Maverick County, although such an undertaking would require additional coordination, resources and approval from the appropriate election authorities.
For CTA, the ongoing discussions represent another step toward its broader objectives of promoting equity, community wellness, accessibility and civic participation.
While the final decision regarding additional polling locations remains pending, the continued collaboration between community advocates and local officials could eventually provide Eagle Pass and Maverick County voters with a more convenient and accessible election system.
What began as a proposal in 2020 could ultimately become an important improvement in how residents throughout the community exercise their right to vote.
