Early voting begins in Plano special election with contested seat

Early voting began Jan. 14 for Plano’s special election set for Jan. 31, giving residents a two-week window to cast ballots on a contested city council seat that will shape local policy in the months ahead. The seat at stake, Place 7 on Plano City Council, became vacant after Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Julie Holmer resigned to launch a campaign for Precinct 4 on the Collin County Commissioners Court, a position slated for the 2026 ballot that represents most of Plano and Allen.

Plano City Council formally accepted Holmer’s resignation at its Oct. 27 meeting, triggering the special election that will determine who fills the remainder of the term. Candidates Shun Thomas and Colleen Aguilar‑Epstein filed for Place 7 and participated in a candidate Q&A after the filing period closed Dec. 1, setting up a direct choice for voters on city leadership and priorities.

Key dates for residents to note are Jan. 14, when early voting began; Jan. 20, the last day to apply for a ballot by mail; Jan. 27, when early voting ends; and Jan. 31, election day. Early voting and election day polling locations in Plano include Carpenter Park Recreation Center on Coit Road, Davis Library on Independence Parkway, Haggard Library on Coit Road, Harrington Library on 18th Street, Parr Library on Windhaven Parkway, and Tom Muehlenbeck Recreation Center on West Parker Road. For full polling lists and the latest information, residents should consult Collin County’s website.

The immediate impact for Plano voters is straightforward: this special election decides who will occupy a council seat that influences zoning, parks, public safety partnerships, and city budgeting decisions through the remainder of the term. Longer-term, Holmer’s bid for Precinct 4 puts a familiar name into the countywide conversation ahead of the 2026 commissioners court race, where decisions on county services and budgets will affect Plano and neighboring Allen.

Turnout in special elections is often lower than in general elections, which can amplify the influence of mobilized neighborhoods and volunteer networks. Voters in Plano who care about local development, library and park funding, traffic and safety projects, or the city’s relationship with Collin County should plan when and where to vote now that early balloting is underway.

The takeaway? Check the Collin County website for your polling hours and locations, note the Jan. 20 mail ballot deadline if you prefer voting from home, and consider voting early to avoid last-minute lines. Our two cents? Treat this special election like any city decision that touches your daily life: make a plan, show up, and bring what you need to cast a secure ballot.