Do you know that within the 2022 Texas Governor Election, 55% of registered voters didn’t vote? That’s an unbelievable 9.6 million individuals! ^1
And did you additionally know there may be an election developing on 7 November 2023?
Registering to vote is the very first step to voting in Texas, and there are numerous wonderful assets at work to get individuals registered to vote. This text is just not about getting individuals registered to vote! It’s about getting registered voters to really present as much as vote.
Many individuals don’t vote as a result of they don’t know that an election is happening, or as a result of they don’t really feel assured of their data of the problems on the poll. I’m right here to be your native pleasant Precinct Chair, providing you with all of the essential data from nonpartisan (not biased towards any specific political group) sources, enabling you to really feel assured and empowered once you stroll into your polling location.
Here’s a step-by-step information to getting ready to vote in Texas:
Register to Vote/ Examine Your Voter Registration Standing
In Texas, it is advisable be registered prematurely, not less than 30 days previous to the upcoming election. For the November election that date is 10 October 2023. Sadly you may’t register to vote on-line in our state. Please double examine earlier than each election that you’re actually nonetheless registered to vote. Typically for no matter purpose(s), eligible voters do get purged from the system and can present as unregistered.
You’ll be able to examine in case you are registered to vote by clicking the hyperlink beneath:
Voter Registration Examine
If it is advisable register to vote or would love extra data on registering to vote, this hyperlink is for you:
Register to Vote
Know Necessary Early Voting and Election Day Dates and Occasions
November 7 = Election Day
October tenth = Final Day to Register to Vote
October twenty seventh = Final Day to Apply for a Mail-in Poll
October twenty third – November third = Early Voting
Early voting instances do fluctuate relying on the date, however election day voting is from 7am-7pm. Bexar County Elections Division has shared these graphics with Early Voting places and instances.
Here’s a hyperlink to Bexar County Elections Division:
Bexar County Elections Division
Discover a Polling Location That Works Greatest for You
In Bexar County, you may vote at any polling location throughout Early Voting and on Election Day. You’ll be able to choose a location close to to your property, in your work commute, or near your favourite place to go to on the town.
Analysis Poll Subjects with a Pattern Poll
Here’s a hyperlink to a Generic Pattern Poll:
Generic Pattern Poll
Here’s a hyperlink to a Customized Pattern Poll primarily based on your property handle:
Customized Pattern Poll
The League of Girls Voters of Texas is one other great nonpartisan useful resource on the subject of researching poll subjects. In addition they provide a complete, printable Voter Information in 4 languages, and have a particular chapter to assist voters in San Antonio. The hyperlinks for his or her common homepage, and their SA space department, see beneath:
League of Girls Voters of Texas
League of Girls Voters of San Antonio
Be happy to print off your pattern poll, make be aware on it, and/or carry it with you when it’s time to vote. Do not forget that ballots might look completely different for various cities inside Bexar County, together with Alamo Heights, Converse, Helotes, Windcrest, and many others.
Make a Plan to Vote
Have a look at your calendar and put “go vote” on the day that works finest for you. Possibly you could have a spare jiffy after college drop off or earlier than the carpool line, or need to mix voting with different appointments and errands. It could sound foolish, however seeing the written reminder in your calendar or agenda will make it one thing that really will get carried out – somewhat than one thing that you just preserve pushing aside and by no means get round to. Type of like once you run into an outdated buddy and say “we should meet up!” and it by no means occurs… we’ve all carried out it, and all really feel responsible about it too.
So repair the date, time, and placement – plan forward and put it in your calendar!
Frightened about childcare? You’ll be able to completely carry your kids to vote with you! They usually have “Future Voter” stickers out there, and all polling places are ADA compliant and subsequently capable of accommodate strollers.
On that be aware, there are lodging out there to voters with particular wants. Click on the hyperlink beneath for extra data:
Voters with Particular Wants
Do you know that you’re allowed by legislation to take time without work work to vote? Texas affords a mandated paid time-off for voting. There isn’t a specified time restrict, so there could also be some employer discretion. If unsure, ask! ^2
We hope this publish has given you all the data it is advisable really feel ready and assured once you vote within the subsequent election. The ultimate piece of the puzzle is your personal motivation: your why you need to get on the market and vote. That is tremendous private factor – everybody could have completely different causes and beliefs, and that’s okay! I really feel very strongly that after you discover your why, you’ll proceed to vote and discover a sense of fulfilment with civic responsibility every time you vote.
I’d like to complete up with my private viewpoint on why voting is so essential to me. My mom labored loads after I was rising up, so I cherished the time we bought to spend collectively. I keep in mind my mother taking me to vote along with her at my elementary college, and pondering that ready was boring. My mother shared with me her why, and why voting was essential to her. Guess what? That caught with me. My birthday is November 3, so it’s all the time near election time. Within the 2004 election, my 18th birthday was the day after election day. So I missed the power to vote by in the future! Since then, I’ve been conscious of this inside flame that may by no means let me miss an election once more. I’ve introduced my kids to go together with me to vote since their infancy, and have even taken all 4 youngsters directly with me to vote (which was a little bit of a circus!). I hope that, in speaking them with me, I can share with them the expertise of voting so when they’re of the age to vote, they really feel acquainted with and cozy at polling places.
I do know voting can really feel intimidating for some individuals, similar to doing something new for the primary time can. Take a deep breath, you bought this! Go make your voice heard!
References:
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