Early Voting Begins!
by Christine Bloemsma
Hello, neighbors, and happy fall! As one of our MANY neighborhood Volunteer Deputy Registrars of voters for Travis County, I wanted to bring together some important election information for you all in one place, and I’d like to ask you to add voting to your calendar for this busy season if you were registered to vote on or before Monday, October 7, 2019.
Generally, the attention and turnout will be on the national primaries and Presidential elections in March and November of 2020, but remember: odd years are worth your time as well!
Historically, odd-year elections get lost in the shuffle. Texas voter turnout in 2017? Less than six percent. Travis County generally has a more-energized electorate, but still brought out only 13.4% of registered voters in 2017.
What’s on the ballot?
- Ten Texas state constitutional amendments. https://ballotpedia.org/Texas_2019_ballot_measures
- Travis County residents will vote on a new Hotel Occupancy Tax proposition (Travis County Prop A). https://communityimpact.com/austin/central-austin/city-county/2019/08/19/travis-county-moves-forward-on-nov-2019-hotel-tax-referendum-to-fund-expo-center-expansion/
- Voters in the Wells Branch Community Library District—that’s Precinct 229 and most of Precincts 215, 219, and 225—will choose two Library Trustees. https://www.wblibrary.org/about-us/board-of-trustees/2019-candidate-biographies
- Williamson County voters will vote on two bond proposals for Roads and Parks. https://www.newsradioklbj.com/news/austin-local-news/williamson-county-calls-november-bond-election
- Our neighbors over in Pflugerville are voting for a mayor and city council members. https://www.pflugervilletx.gov/city-government/city-secretary-s-office/election-information-informacion-de-la-elecci
To be sure what you’ll see before you go, Travis County voters can use the “voter lookup” feature on this web-page: https://www.votetravis.com/vexpress/display.do which will find the voter and display a sample ballot.
The League of Women Voters also has a very thorough, nonpartisan voter’s guide: https://lwvaustin.org/voter-guide/
Tuesday, November 5, 2019 – General Election (Constitutional)
Early Voting:
Monday, October 21, 2019 – Friday, November 1, 2019
Last Day to Apply for Ballot by Mail (received, not postmarked):
Friday, October 25, 2019
Travis early voting locations: https://countyclerk.traviscountytx.gov/polling-locations.html
Williamson early voting locations: https://www.wilco.org/Departments/Elections/Voting-in-Person/Early-Voting
**NOTE: the two-county site at McNeil High School’s Performing Arts Center will not be open this year. Travis County voters may vote at Northwest YMCA across McNeil from the high school. Williamson ballots will not be available at that location.Your vote is your voice! See you around the neighborhood!
