Elections are right around the corner. Dozens of local and state races will be decided next month. It’s not all about the White House. Here’s a primer to get you ready.
Key Dates:
🗳️ Oct. 7: Deadline To Register To Vote
Voter registration applications are available at all Austin public libraries, tax offices, U.S. Postal Service offices, and the state offices for the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Department of Health and Human Services. You can also request an application be sent to you via the Texas Secretary of State website.
Print out an application, fill it out, and mail it to the Travis County voter registration division at 2433 Ridgepoint Dr. You can also drop off the application at a county tax office.
Not sure if you’re registered? Check online.
📅 Oct. 21 - Nov. 1: Early Voting
Want to beat Election Day lines? Texas was actually one of the first states to implement early voting. During the last presidential election, 64.7% of Travis County’s registered voters cast ballots during Early Voting. That’s 553,103 people. Join them to cast your ballot early, starting Oct. 21. We love having more than one day to get our civic duty done, right, y’all?
📝 Oct. 25: Deadline To Request Ballot by Mail.
You qualify to vote by mail if you are 65 or older, sick or disabled, expected to give birth within three weeks of Election Day, plan to be out of the county during early voting and on Election Day, or if you are in jail and eligible to vote.
Print the form to apply for a ballot by mail or request an application be sent to you via the Texas Secretary of State website.
Where To Vote:
📍 Early Voting Locations
During Early Voting, you can vote at any Vote Center in Travis County where you see a “Vote Here/Aqui” sign. Polling locations include grocery stores, libraries, and more. To find a polling location, look here, and make sure you check out the wait times, too. Polling locations are open all day:
🕜 Hours:
- Oct. 21 - Oct. 26: 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
- Oct. 27: Noon to 6 p.m.
- Oct. 28 - Oct. 30: 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
- Oct. 31 - Nov. 1: 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. with some locations open until 10 p.m.
📍 Election Day Polling Locations Are All Over Travis County.
On Nov. 5, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. You can vote at any Travis County Voting Center where you see a “Vote Here/Aqui” sign displayed. Find your polling location and check wait times here.
What’s on the Ballot in Travis County:
This year’s ballot includes federal races, like who will be the next president, along with state, county, city, courts, and school district races. If you want to see the whole shebang, download a virtual, sample ballot on the Travis County Clerk’s voter website.
But you won’t just be voting for your favorite candidates. Ballot initiatives you can expect to vote on are the AISD tax rate increase and the Travis County tax rate increase.
👀 Races To Watch:
- Republican U.S. Senator Ted Cruz is up for re-election and is in a tight race against U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, a Democrat. Various polls still have Cruz leading Allred, but not by much.
- Five people are running to be Austin’s next mayor, and City Cast Austin interviewed each candidate: Jeffery Bowen, Doug Greco, Carmen Llanes Pulido, Kathie Tovo, and current mayor Kirk Watson.
- Five seats on the Austin City Council are up for election this year, too: Districts 2, 4, 6, 7, and 10. Liz Pagano of the Austin Monitor breaks down those races and the election's potential impact on the dais for City Cast Austin listeners.
