Early Voting Begins in Tomball: What's on the November 3 Ballot, Local School Board Races and Where to Vote
Early voting begins today, Monday, October 19, for the November 3, 2026, General and Special Elections, giving Tomball-area residents their first opportunity to cast ballots in several local races that will help shape school district leadership, county government and public services.
For families in Tomball ISD and Klein ISD, the election includes contested school board positions involving decisions about educational programs, district budgets and the use of taxpayer dollars. Harris County residents will also choose a new county judge, while voters in neighboring Montgomery County will see a different set of county offices on their ballots.
The election comes as northwest Harris County and southern Montgomery County continue to experience residential development, bringing renewed attention to school capacity, roads, drainage and public infrastructure. Magnolia ISD families have already participated in a major school funding decision this year, approving a $465.7 million bond in May that will help finance three new campuses and other improvements.
With school districts, municipal boundaries and county lines overlapping throughout the greater Tomball area, residents may discover that their ballots differ from those of neighbors living just a few miles away.
What's on the November 3, 2026 Ballot in Tomball?
The general election includes federal and statewide contests, including races for U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, Texas governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and comptroller. Voters will also consider candidates for the Texas Legislature, judicial positions and other offices, depending on their residential addresses.
Closer to home, Harris County voters will select a new county judge, and eligible residents of Tomball ISD and Klein ISD will participate in their respective school board elections.
The City of Tomball is not holding its regular City Council election in November. The city conducts municipal general elections in May, with its most recent election taking place May 2, 2026.
Residents living outside Tomball city limits are not necessarily eligible to vote in city elections, even if they have a Tomball mailing address. The same principle applies to school districts and special-purpose districts, whose legal boundaries determine voter eligibility.
The Harris County sample ballot lookup provides information about the races and propositions assigned to an individual voting address.
Tomball ISD Voters Will Decide Two Contested School Board Races
Four positions on the Tomball Independent School District Board of Trustees are scheduled for election November 3, although only two attracted multiple candidates.
Position 1: Lacey Derrington and Patrick Beecher
Incumbent Patrick Beecher faces challenger Lacey Derrington for Position 1.
Beecher was appointed to the board in January 2026 following a vacancy and was sworn into office in February. His appointment covered the remainder of the existing term, making the November election an opportunity to seek a full four-year term.
Position 3: Joseph Ferguson and John McStravick
Position 3 also has two candidates, with Joseph Ferguson challenging incumbent John McStravick.
McStravick currently serves on the district's board, while Ferguson is seeking election to the position.
Positions 2 and 4
Michael Pratt is the only candidate listed for Position 2, and Mark Lewandowski is the sole candidate for Position 4.
Tomball ISD trustees serve four-year terms and are elected at-large, meaning they represent the district as a whole rather than individual neighborhoods.
The district's official 2026 trustee election page includes candidate applications, election notices and ballot information.
Why the Tomball ISD Election Matters to Local Families
School board members are responsible for decisions that affect students, teachers, taxpayers and the district's long-term direction.
Trustees approve annual budgets, adopt district policies, hire and evaluate the superintendent, and oversee planning for facilities and educational programs.
For Tomball ISD, those responsibilities involve established campuses and neighborhoods as well as newer residential areas, including communities near Creekside Park, Grand Parkway and the Highway 249 corridor.
Decisions about enrollment growth, facility maintenance and school finances can carry consequences well beyond a single school year.
Even residents without school-age children have a financial connection to district operations through school property taxes, making trustee elections relevant to homeowners throughout the district.
Klein ISD Has a Contested Trustee Election for Position 1
Klein Independent School District residents will also see school board contests on the November ballot.
Position 1 features incumbent Dustin Qualls and challenger Linda Ford.
Qualls, a civil engineer, currently serves as vice president of the Klein ISD Board of Trustees.
Ford is an educator with more than three decades of experience. In comments reported by the Houston Chronicle in September, she identified school security, compensation for support employees and greater transparency in district spending as priorities.
Position 2 has one listed candidate, incumbent Doug James, who currently serves as board president.
Klein ISD's seven trustees serve three-year terms and are elected at-large in nonpartisan elections.
For residents in the Klein, Champions, Spring Cypress and Louetta Road areas, the board's responsibilities include district finances, educational programs, campus operations and policies affecting students and employees.
Although Klein ISD and Tomball ISD serve neighboring communities, they operate independently, with separate governing boards, budgets and property tax structures.
Residents can find district governance information through the Klein ISD Board of Trustees website.
Magnolia ISD Does Not Have a November Trustee Race, but Voters Approved a $465.7 Million Bond in May
Magnolia Independent School District follows a different election schedule.
The district originally scheduled trustee elections for Places 4 and 5 on May 2, 2026, but canceled the contests because the candidates were unopposed.
Quinn Tolbert and Stacia Norris were declared elected to the respective positions.
While those trustee positions are not part of the November election, Magnolia ISD residents made a substantial school funding decision earlier this year.
On May 2, district voters approved a $465,688,326 school bond proposition, with approximately 63% voting in favor.
The vote followed a November 2025 election in which residents rejected a larger, three-proposition bond package totaling approximately $516.9 million.
After gathering community feedback, Magnolia ISD returned with a revised proposal that reduced the total amount and focused on projects the district identified as more immediate needs.
What Will Magnolia ISD Build With the Approved Bond?
The approved bond includes funding for three new schools, along with safety and security upgrades, school buses, future school sites and improvements to existing facilities.
The largest project is a third high school, planned near FM 1486 and the SH 249 Tollway, with an anticipated opening in August 2030.
Elementary School No. 10 is planned for the Kresston development, with an expected August 2028 opening. Elementary School No. 11 is scheduled for August 2029, although its location will be determined based on enrollment growth.
The district has also identified security cameras, technology upgrades, land purchases and repairs to aging building systems among the approved expenditures.
In September, Magnolia ISD moved forward with construction contracts for major projects included in the bond package, bringing the district closer to beginning work on the new schools.
Magnolia ISD has stated that the bond can be financed without increasing its existing school property tax rate. The district attributes that projection to growth in its tax base and its debt management strategy.
Although Texas law requires school bond propositions to include language identifying them as a property tax increase, that wording does not necessarily mean a district expects to raise its tax rate. Actual future tax bills remain dependent on taxable property values, exemptions and adopted rates.
The bond is not being reconsidered in November. However, its implementation remains an important development for families living near Magnolia, Kresston and the western Highway 249 corridor.
Residents can review project budgets, locations and anticipated construction schedules through the Magnolia ISD 2026 Bond website.
Harris County Judge Election Will Determine New County Leadership
For Tomball-area residents who live in Harris County, another major November contest is the race for Harris County judge.
Democrat Letitia Plummer and Republican Orlando Sanchez are competing to succeed outgoing County Judge Lina Hidalgo.
Plummer previously served as an at-large Houston City Council member and has worked as a dentist. Her campaign has emphasized healthcare access, storm resilience and other county services.
Sanchez previously served as Harris County treasurer and a Houston City Council member. His campaign has emphasized county spending, fiscal management, public safety and government operations.
Despite the title, the Harris County judge is not primarily a courtroom judge.
The position presides over Harris County Commissioners Court, which oversees county budgets and makes decisions involving infrastructure, emergency management, public health and other government responsibilities.
For residents of unincorporated neighborhoods surrounding Tomball, these decisions can affect services they depend on, from road maintenance and drainage to emergency response and county facilities.
What About Harris County Commissioner Races?
Harris County commissioner positions in Precincts 2 and 4 are also on the November 3 ballot.
In Precinct 2, incumbent Democrat Adrian Garcia faces Republican Richard Vega.
In Precinct 4, incumbent Democrat Lesley Briones faces Republican Steve Radack, who previously served as a Harris County commissioner.
County commissioners participate in decisions about public spending, infrastructure, parks and services provided by county government.
However, much of the Tomball area falls within Harris County Precinct 3, currently represented by Commissioner Tom Ramsey.
The Precinct 3 commissioner position is not scheduled for election in November 2026.
That distinction matters because residents may hear about the Precinct 2 and 4 contests in countywide election coverage even though neither race appears on their individual ballots.
A resident's official precinct assignment determines which commissioner contest, if any, applies.
Why Tomball Neighbors May Have Different Ballots
Tomball's location near the Harris-Montgomery county line creates an unusual election landscape.
The City of Tomball is located in Harris County, but Tomball ISD extends into Montgomery County. Klein ISD serves Harris County communities, while Magnolia ISD primarily serves Montgomery County.
That means two families within Tomball ISD could participate in the same school board election while receiving different county-level ballots.
The distinction also affects where residents obtain their official election information.
Harris County residents participate in Harris County government elections, while Montgomery County residents participate in their own county contests.
School district boundaries create another layer. Living near Tomball, Magnolia or Klein does not necessarily establish which school district serves a particular home.
Municipal utility districts and other special-purpose districts may also have elections that apply only to residents within their boundaries.
For residents who live near the county line, reviewing a personalized sample ballot is the most reliable way to identify which local offices and propositions apply.
Where Can Tomball, Klein and Magnolia Residents Vote Early?
Harris County is operating more than 70 early voting centers for the November 3 election, with more than 600 voting centers expected to be available on Election Day.
Harris County voters may use any participating vote center within the county, regardless of their neighborhood or assigned precinct.
That allows someone who lives near Tomball but works elsewhere in Harris County to use a participating vote center closer to work.
Residents can search for voting locations near Tomball, Klein, Champions, Spring Cypress Road, Highway 249 and surrounding communities through the official Harris County Vote Center locator.
The county's online resources also provide voting-center information and, when available, estimated wait times.
Montgomery County residents should use Montgomery County Elections to identify the voting locations and rules applicable to their county. Harris County voting centers are not interchangeable with Montgomery County voting centers.
Because locations can change, residents should verify the address and operating hours of their preferred voting center before leaving home.
Early Voting Hours and Important Election Dates
Harris County's early voting period runs from October 19 through October 30.
From Monday, October 19, through Saturday, October 24, voting centers are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
On Sunday, October 25, hours are noon to 7 p.m.
From Monday, October 26, through Friday, October 30, voting centers return to a 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. schedule.
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, with Harris County voting centers open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The voter registration deadline for the November election was October 5.
Another important date is Friday, October 23, the deadline for election officials to receive applications for ballots by mail.
Eligible Texans may request mail ballots under circumstances established by state law, including qualifying age, disability, expected absence from the county and certain other conditions.
Applications must be received by the deadline, not simply placed in the mail that day.
For completed mail ballots, Texas has separate receipt deadlines depending on postmarks and voter circumstances. Voters can review applicable rules through VoteTexas.gov.
What Identification Is Required at the Polls?
Texas recognizes seven forms of acceptable photo identification for in-person voting.
These include a Texas driver's license, Texas Election Identification Certificate, Texas personal identification card, Texas handgun license, U.S. military identification card containing a photograph, U.S. citizenship certificate containing a photograph, and U.S. passport book or card.
For most voters ages 18 through 69, an approved photo ID may be accepted if it expired no more than four years earlier. Voters age 70 or older may use an otherwise qualifying approved photo ID regardless of how long it has been expired.
Residents who do not possess and cannot reasonably obtain one of the accepted photo IDs may qualify to use certain supporting documents and complete a Reasonable Impediment Declaration.
Voters who recently moved or need to verify their registration information can find additional guidance through the Texas Secretary of State's voter information website.
Can Voters Bring Phones or Notes Into the Voting Booth?
Residents reviewing several school board candidates or other ballot contests may want to prepare their selections ahead of time.
Texas law prohibits the use of wireless communication devices, including cell phones and tablets, inside the room where voting takes place. Recording images or sound is also prohibited within 100 feet of a voting station.
However, voters may bring handwritten notes or printed sample ballots into the voting booth.
For someone reviewing multiple school board contests, legislative races and local government offices, a paper copy of a sample ballot can provide a convenient reference.
Accessibility and Mail Ballot Information
Harris County provides accessible voting equipment and curbside voting for eligible residents who cannot physically enter a polling location.
Voters who need accommodations or language assistance can find additional information through Harris County Elections or contact the county's Elections Department at 713-755-6965.
Harris County residents who have received a mail ballot but choose to vote in person should surrender their mail ballot at a vote center. If the ballot is unavailable, they may be required to use the provisional ballot process.
For voters who wish to hand-deliver their completed mail ballots, Harris County has designated 1019 Congress Street in downtown Houston for Election Day hand delivery between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Only the voter may personally hand-deliver the completed ballot, and valid identification is required.
Montgomery County voters should follow their county's designated ballot return procedures rather than using Harris County's downtown Houston location.
What Happens Next for Tomball-Area Communities?
The November 3 election will determine new representation in the contested Tomball ISD and Klein ISD trustee positions, along with leadership for Harris County and other elected offices.
Magnolia ISD, meanwhile, will continue advancing projects authorized by voters in May, including new campuses intended to accommodate future enrollment.
For residents across Tomball, Klein, Magnolia and surrounding neighborhoods, these developments involve different government entities but many of the same everyday concerns: school quality, property taxes, infrastructure, public safety and the long-term needs of growing communities.
Residents can review their local election information through HarrisVotes.com or Montgomery County Elections, depending on their county of residence.
Stay connected with My Neighborhood News for continued coverage of the November 3 election, local school board results and developments affecting Tomball, Klein, Magnolia and surrounding northwest Houston neighborhoods.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
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