Montgomery County elections liaison outlines registration deadlines, early voting and bilingual services

Dr. Gilberto Celaya, community liaison and public relations officer for the Montgomery County Board of Elections, told a Spanish‑language community broadcast hosted by Marcela Rodríguez Villagrán that the county is preparing for the 2026 election cycle with bilingual voter materials, multiple routes to register and expanded volunteer recruitment.

Celaya said each registered voter will receive a mailed voter information packet and a sample ballot in both English and Spanish. "La papeleta oficial del condado de Montgomery va a estar bilingüe en inglés y español," he said on air, adding that the county provides Spanish‑language assistance at polling places.

Why it matters: bilingual materials and Spanish‑speaking poll workers reduce language barriers that can prevent voters from casting ballots, especially in areas where Latino residents make up a significant share of the population.

Celaya outlined registration and voting steps: he said residents may request a mail ballot if they will be absent on election day and can begin the process by texting a short code to the county shortcode 77788 (the broadcast cited several short keywords). He told listeners the voter registration deadline is June 2 but the program later included a different date (June 12) in remarks; the broadcast did not resolve that discrepancy, so listeners were advised to confirm the deadline with the Montgomery County Board of Elections. Celaya also said people can register in person at the county elections office or when obtaining a driver license or ID at the motor vehicle administration.

On early voting, Celaya said the primary early voting window will run Thursday, June 11, through Thursday, June 18, and that Montgomery County plans to operate 14 early voting centers during that period. He added that polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m., and that voters in line at closing are allowed to complete their ballots.

The county is recruiting election judges (poll workers). "Se le da un estendido hasta $250 por cada día que participe," Celaya said, describing full‑day pay up to $250 and a smaller stipend for half‑day shifts. He also said returning volunteers receive an additional $100 per full day; the broadcast's example math was unclear and inconsistent, so the exact totals should be confirmed with the elections office. Celaya described the application process: an online survey and an exam (about 40 questions), followed by a training session of up to three hours offered at flexible times. He said some volunteer materials and mandatory judge training are provided in English because judges must be able to read, write and speak English, but the county asks volunteers about language skills and assigns bilingual workers where needed.

Celaya described youth outreach through a program called "Future Votes," which allows students to earn Student Service Learning (SSL) credit while participating as volunteers. He encouraged parents and young people to sign up and participate, noting that young people may register at 16 in the state and that a 17‑year‑old may be eligible to vote in primaries if they will be 18 by the general election (as he described on air).

Celaya repeatedly gave listeners instructions for SMS sign‑ups to 77788 using short keywords (examples cited on air include "VC," "vota," "servir," and "FV"). He urged community participation and said the county hopes Latino turnout will reflect the community’s share of the population.

The broadcast closed with the host thanking Celaya. The Montgomery County Board of Elections was the only agency represented on the program; listeners seeking confirmation of deadlines, exact pay amounts or official procedures were directed to contact the Board of Elections directly.