Val Verde Hospital District opens candidate filing for 2026 election

Val Verde Regional Medical Center posted the 2026 Hospital District Board of Trustees candidate packet and election calendar, and the first day to file for a place on the ballot opened Jan. 14. The hospital district page now serves as the central resource for candidates and voters, listing official forms, deadlines, a voting precincts map, and guidance on voter eligibility and identification.

Prospective candidates had from Jan. 14 to Feb. 13 to file applications for placement on the general election ballot, with filings required to be received by VVRMC administration by 5:00 p.m. The same Jan. 14 start date applied to declarations of intent by write-in candidates. Those preparing to run should consult the posted candidate packet PDF and the Texas Ethics Commission link included on the page for filing and reporting requirements.

The calendar outlines the full run-up to Election Day. Ballot-by-mail applications could first be submitted Jan. 1, 2026, with the final day to apply by mail falling on Apr. 20; those mail requests must be received, not merely postmarked. Voter registration closes Apr. 2. Early voting by personal appearance begins Apr. 20 and runs through Apr. 28. The election is set for May 2, 2026, which is also the last day the district will accept ballots returned by mail.

The VVRMC page also explains which voters qualify to use early voting by mail and lists acceptable forms of identification required at the polls. For candidate guidance the page links to VOTExas and the Texas Ethics Commission. For local election questions the page names Maricela Arreola, Executive Assistant, as the contact and provides phone and email contact details on the VVRMC site.

This election determines membership on the hospital district board that oversees VVRMC governance and policy decisions affecting healthcare access across Val Verde County. Filing and voting deadlines are consequential for residents who want a direct voice in hospital-district oversight, budget priorities, and service planning. Small procedural details—such as the requirement that mailed ballot requests be received rather than postmarked—can affect voters who rely on mail services.

Residents considering a run or planning to vote should review the candidate packet and precinct map now, confirm voter registration status before Apr. 2, and plan early voting or ballot-by-mail requests to meet the stated receipt deadlines. The coming weeks will set the roster of candidates; with filing closed Feb. 13 and early voting in late April, the May 2 election will be the next major milestone for Val Verde County healthcare governance.