Hervol-Mitchell vote still tied after recount, Council to order runoff for June 11

According to a Facebook posting from Kyle business owner Travis Mitchell, one of the two Place 1 City Council candidates whose race ended in a tie, and subsequently confirmed by a City official, a recount of that May 7 conducted today reaffirmed that tie vote which means the Council will be forced to proceed with an item on its agenda tomorrow, namely calling for a runoff election to be held Saturday June 11.

"I have just received word that the recount has concluded with no change to the vote totals," Mitchell wrote on his Facebook page. "A tie is still in effect."

The result has also been verified by acting City Secretary Jennifer Vetrano. "The recount resulted in no change," Ms. Vetrano said in an email.

The May 7 vote ended with both Mitchell and Place 1 incumbent Diane Hervol receiving 510 votes, which means only 5.86 percent of the registered voters in Kyle even bothered to cast votes, either absentee, in early voting or on election day. Normally, Texas elections held during the summer months attract even fewer voters than those held in May. This past election will be the last council election primary held in May, however, since voters also approved a City Charter amendment on May 7 to move the elections to November.

"Thanks are in order to the volunteers who gave their time today and recounted the votes," Mitchell’s Facebook posting said. "And thanks to the Hays County Elections Office for being spot on in their May 7 report."

Hervol later confirmed the recount ended in a tie on a Facebook posting.

"I would like to thank the counters, the poll workers, observers, judges and county election staff for their patience through this process," she wrote.

Item 11 on tomorrow evening’s City Council agenda is "A Resolution of the City of Kyle, Texas, calling a Runoff Election on Saturday, June 11, 2016, for the purpose of electing Council Member at large, Position One; providing for early voting and for notice of the election; authorizing Mayor to execute agreement(s) to reserve polling locations on election day and on the conduct of the election; and providing for other matters relating to the election and setting an effective date."

Voters will be able to cast their ballots that Saturday at City Hall, Wallace Middle School or Chapa Middle School. Early voting will take place at City Hall on May 31, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; June 1-3 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; June 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; June 6 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and June 7 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Applications will be accepted for mail-in ballots until 5 p.m., Thursday, June 2. Requests for applications should be mailed to Joyce Cowan, Hays County Elections Administrator, Hays County Elections Division, 712 South Stagecoach Trail #1045, San Marcos, TX 78666.