The Decision to Vote or Not to Vote

 So, you’re questioning whether you want to vote or not. What’s involved in the decision? There are actually two questions: Will I vote? For whom or what will I vote?

I’ll consider the “Will I vote?” question first:

·   If you decide not to vote, you have given others the authority to make a decision that will affect you and the people you love. Your single vote will probably not determine the result of an election that involves a large number of voters; however, by not voting, you have made the votes of those who do participate more significant in determining the outcome of the election.

·   If you decide to vote, there are several questions to be answered:

o   Am I eligible to vote? What are the qualifications for voting in the election in which you are voting?

o   What type of election is it? There are several types of elections depending on your election jurisdiction. Each election may have different qualifications and conditions. Is it a referendum? Is it a primary election? Is it a recall election? Is it an election to approve a constitutional amendment? Is it a bond election?

o   How is the voting conducted? Can I vote by mail? If so, what is required to cast a ballot by mail? If so, when do I have to request my ballot? How can I submit the ballot by mail? When do I have to submit the ballot? When does the ballot have to be received? To whom do I address the ballot? If I made a mistake on the ballot, can I correct it? If so, how do I correct it?

o   When can I vote? Is in-person early voting available? What are the dates and hours for in-person early voting? Where can I vote early in person?

For Travis County, Texas, these are the answers:

·         To be eligible to vote:

o   You can register if you are 17 years and 10 months of age. However, you must be 18 years of age or older on Election Day for the election in which you desire to participate.   

o   You must be a United States citizen.

o   You must register in the county in which you reside.

o   If convicted of a felony, you must be “off papers” or your right to vote has been restored otherwise.

o   You must be mentally competent to vote, as ruled by a probate court with jurisdiction.

·    In addition, you must register to vote at least 30 days before the election in which you desire to participate. To register in Texas, you can complete a form online and present it to the county official responsible for voter registration. You can also complete a voter registration form with a deputy registrar of the county. The deputy registrar will turn in the completed form. You will receive a copy of the registrar’s form, which indicates that you are registered to vote. You can also go to the county official who is responsible for voter registration and complete the form.

·   What type of election do you desire to vote in? There are several types of elections in Texas. The general election is in November in even-numbered years. All other elections are special elections and may be held in November of odd-numbered years or in May of any year, which is when many municipalities hold their elections to elect city officials and get approval for municipal bonds. The November election date is the first Tuesday after the first Monday. The May election date is the first Saturday in May. Primary Elections are conducted by political parties to nominate their candidates for positions on the general election ballot. Primary elections are held on the first Tuesday in March. Runoff Elections are held when no candidate in an election receives at least fifty percent of the vote in the original election for certain local and primary elections. Runoff Elections are conducted on the Tuesday twelve weeks after the original election. The Texas governor can also call special elections to fill vacancies in certain offices.

·    In Texas, one can vote by mail or early vote by mail or in person. The rules for voting by mail are detailed and limited to registered voters with certain conditions. Early voting commences two weeks before the election. In-person early voting in Travis County is conducted at voting locations throughout the county. Registered voters can vote at any of the designated voting locations, not just in their voting precinct.

·   If you decide to vote either during in-person early voting or on Election Day, you will need to know where to vote, the Days and hours for voting, and what you must possess to vote.

o   The locations for early in-person voting vary by county in Texas. In Travis County, you can vote at any location specified by the County Clerk as an in-person early voting location.

o   The days and hours of early in-person voting also vary by county. Again, the County Clerk is the source. (Travis County Clerk (traviscountytx.gov)

o   Election Day voting times also vary by county. In Travis County, polling locations are specified by the County Clerk. Hours are 7 am to 7 pm. If you are in line to vote at 7 pm, you will be allowed to vote.

o   If you possess one of the following forms of acceptable photo ID, you must present it when voting in person:

      •     Texas Driver License issued by the Texas Department of Public         Safety (DPS),
      •      Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS,
      •      Texas Personal Identification Card issued by DPS,
      •      Texas Handgun License issued by DPS,
      •      United States Military Identification Card containing your                 photograph,
      •      United States Citizenship Certificate containing your                       photograph,
      •      United States Passport (book or card).
    • Except for the U.S. Citizenship Certificate, which does not expire, for voters aged 18-69, the acceptable form of photo identification may expire no more than four years before being presented for voter qualification at the polling place. For voters       aged 70 or older, the acceptable form of photo identification may be expired for any length of time if the identification is otherwise valid.

Now, you know what information or documents are necessary before you vote. In the next post, we’ll consider what you must decide to cast a vote that is meaningful to you.       

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