So you are freshly 18 and voting for the first time, even with no idea where to start. This is your ultimate first-time voting guide, where I will break it down for you!

Important deadlines: 

Registration Deadline: 10/5

Mail-In Ballot Deadline: 10/23

Early Voting: 10/19 – 10/30

Election Day: 11/3

What you should plan/ know before hand 

• Before the general elections (the one you will be voting in), each party chooses its candidates in the primaries. They are just as important as the general and happened in March. 
• This website https://goelect.txelections.civixapps.com/ivis-mvp-ui/#/login will let you know if you are registered to vote, but more importantly, it will provide you with poll locations and early voting locations. Travis County, where you are located, participates in the Countywide Polling Place Program (CWPP), so you can vote at any polling place in the county. 
• Before you go to vote, you can check the wait times at your polling site of choice online at Travis County Elections 
• Polling sites are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

What are you voting on:

Federal:

• U.S. Senate (One seat, currently held by Sen. John Cornyn)
• All 38 U.S. Representatives using the newly redrawn Congressional map

Statewide races:

• Texas Governor
• Lieutenant Governor
• Attorney General
• Comptroller of Public Accounts
• Commissioner of General Land Office
• Commissioner of Agriculture
• One Railroad Commissioner seat
• Four Texas Supreme Court seats
• Three members of the Court of Criminal Appeals
• Three members of the 15th Court of Appeals

Regional state races:

• Eight members of the State Board of Education
• Sixteen state senators
• All 150 state representatives
• Seven Court of Appeals Chief Justices

County races:

• County courts at law
• Justices of the peace
• District clerks
• County clerks
• County treasurers
• County surveyors
• County commissioners (precincts 2 and 4)
• County judges
• Various district judges, including on criminal and family courts.

Researching

• https://www.vote411.org/tx-lwvaa will publish a great, unbiased voting guide. If you enter your address here, the website will provide you with your county’s exact ballot, with a printable guide.
• If you really care about a specific issue, find an organization that aligns with your beliefs; they will likely endorse certain candidates. 
• https://www.austinchronicle.com/ will publish endorsements too.

Voting Registration

• • The voting registration deadline for this November’s election is October 5th.
  • You must be 18 by November 3rd to register.
  • Once you leave Travis County, you must re-register to vote in the new county.
  • If you move within Travis, you just need to inform the county clerk.

• Eligibility

• • • You are a United States citizen; 
    • You are a resident of the county where you submit the application; 
    • You are at least 17 years and 10 months old on the date your voter registration application is submitted, and you are 18 years of age on Election Day. 
    • You are not a convicted felon.

• To register to vote, there are a couple of ways 

• • Go to VoteTexas.gov and fill out an online application.
  • Pick one up in person at local government locations, such as a county tax office, public library, or post office.
  • Or ask one to be mailed to you through the voting portal.
  • Then you can either mail your forms to the Travis County Voting Registrar or hand it in in person to the Travis County Tax Office.
  • There will be a voting drive 10/15, 8 am – 10 am at school! Reach out to Dr. Sallee for more information.

Early Voting

• Early voting lasts from October 19th to October 30th.
• By voting early, you can avoid crowds and ensure your vote gets counted early.
• The dates only include one weekend (24th – 25th).

What to expect when you go to vote (early or day of):

• Once you enter your polling location, the poll worker will ask for 1 of 7 forms of identification (Texas driver’s license or Texas handgun license are scannable, making the process the fastest) to make sure your address is correct and your name is spelled correctly (small changes in name and address within Travis County can be made at the polling site; larger changes require a different process). Texas Voter ID Requirements | VoteTexas.gov gives a list of all other accepted IDs. 
• In Travis County, you will receive a blank paper ballot upon your identity being verified. You will then feed that ballot into a machine and cast your votes on the screen. Then the machine will print out your ballot, marked with the votes you made. After you receive your filled-in ballot, feed it into the collection machine to officially cast your ballot, and collect an “I voted” sticker. 
• If you choose to vote from your car, you should pull into a parking spot that is designated for curbside voting, usually with a sign of some sort. Then call the polling site’s phone number (on the sign that indicates the curbside spot), and a clerk will come outside, verify your identity, and give you your ballot. They will take the voting machine out to your car so you can feed the ballot into the machine, cast your votes, and receive your printed ballot. The clerk will then ask you to wait for them to successfully cast your ballot into the collection machine before leaving. Once the ballot is cast, they will come back to your car to confirm this with you and give you your “I voted” sticker. 
• If your ballot isn’t put into the collection machine, it is not counted.
• Don’t be afraid to ask the poll workers.
• Once you enter the building, you are not allowed to use your phone. You cannot do research on your candidate or write who you are voting for on your phone. Instead, bring in a paper list.
• Polling sites should have sample ballots if you want to look at one while standing in line.
• The polling site’s door will list the 4 nearest other polling places in case the line is very long (but strongly encourage you to check the above URL to find the shortest line). 

Last notes:

• Look out for an email regarding a Q & A with State Rep. Martinez Fischer on the importance of voting and civic engagement.  
• Voting is extremely important! Especially local elections that can be decided by tens of votes. Every single vote counts!!