This is your Friday update, which takes a quick look at the week ahead and some developments that El Paso Matters is following.

El Paso Matters Voter Guide: On Nov. 8, El Pasoans will make their choices for a wide range of elected offices, from justice of the peace to City Council to Congress. To help voters understand the issues and get to know the candidates, El Paso Matters has once again produced a voter guide focused on local races. Candidates were invited to respond to five questions on key issues in their races. Print versions of this voter guide will be available in both English and Spanish at El Paso Public Library branches on a first-come, first-served basis.

Early Voting Starts Monday: Early voting for the Nov. 8 election begins on Monday and ends on Nov. 4. During the two weeks, the El Paso County Elections Department will be staffing 33 voting sites throughout the county; El Pasoans can cast a ballot at any of these locations. The list of early voting sites, complete with addresses and hours of operation, is on the elections department website.

Canutillo School Board Candidate Forum: All 10 candidates running for three at-large seats on the Canutillo Independent School District Board of Trustees are expected to attend a candidate forum on Monday. The forum will be moderated by Northwest Early College High School students. It starts at 5:30 p.m. at the NWECHS Grotto (the cafeteria), 6701 S. Desert Blvd. The forum will also be livestreamed on Canutillo ISD’s YouTube page.

Monkeypox Vaccine Available by Appointment: El Paso is now administering the Jynneos monkeypox vaccine by appointment at the city’s community clinic, 9341 Alameda Ave. Residents can call 915-212-6843 to make an appointment. The clinic is open Tuesday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The city is offering the vaccine to high-risk individuals ages 18 and up, which include gay or bisexual men who’ve had more than one partner in the past six months, health care workers with potential exposure, and people who’ve had HIV or a sexually transmitted disease in the past 6 months. The announcement comes as El Paso confirmed its fourth case of monkeypox, a man in his 30s who is recovering at home.

Free COVID-19 Testing Kiosks: Ahead of a potential holiday surge, El Paso is offering free COVID-19 testing at fully-automated kiosks located at four sites. Tests are free regardless of insurance status. Residents can register online at register.testandgo.com or by scanning the QR code on the machine. After registering, the machine will dispense a nasal swab test kit that will be returned to the kiosk’s collection box. Results will be shared via text or email within 48 hours. Kiosks are located at:

  • Esperanza Acosta Moreno Branch Library, 12480 Pebble Hills Blvd.; open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
  • Arturo “Tury” Benavides Cielo Vista Transit Center, 1165 Sunmount Drive; open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
  • Al Jefferson Westside Transit Center, 7535 Remcon Circle; open daily from 4:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m.
  • University of Texas at El Paso, 3333 N. Mesa St. (cross street is Kern Drive); open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week