The Justice of the Peace runs the court most people actually end up in: evictions, small claims up to $20,000, traffic tickets, and other small offenses. Your JP is chosen only by voters in your part of the county, and does not have to be a lawyer. In Hays County the JP is also who gets called when someone dies unexpectedly, to decide if there's an investigation. Whoever ends up in front of a JP is standing in front of someone your vote put there.
The Democratic candidate
Beth Smith
Democrat IncumbentAbout Beth
Smith has been the Justice of the Peace in Kyle since 1999 — the longest-serving JP in Hays County — and took her court paperless years before the rest of the county.
She brought the "Shattered Dreams" drunk-driving program to Hays CISD high schools, describes her style as "fair, but firm," and calls the job her "second family." She lives in Mountain City.
Also on the ballot
Every candidate who filed for this office appears here. Tap a name to read more.
Janie FloresAbout Janie
Flores is running to unseat a Justice of the Peace who has held the Kyle court since 1999. Her campaign lives on a Facebook page, and she ran unopposed in the Republican primary.
Her Facebook page offers no professional background, legal experience or record to check. A JP doesn't have to be a lawyer — but this is the court that handles evictions, small claims and traffic tickets for Kyle, Mountain City and Uhland, and voters have nothing to go on but her name.
This is a precinct race — whether it is on your ballot depends on your address. Enter your address in the guide and it will work out your precinct for you.
Where to vote
Hays County uses vote centers — any registered Hays County voter can vote at any open location in the county. Locations and hours by city: