By Laura Bray
For the “Progressive Views” column, Boerne Star, October 6, 2024
Texas law requires voters to register thirty days prior to an election. That deadline is Monday, October 7, so if you haven’t yet registered or need to change your voting address, you are nearly out of time, if you want to vote in the November 5 general election.
With such a short deadline, there isn’t time to mail in your registration. Stop by the Kendall County Elections Office (KCEO) at 221 Fawn Valley Dr. in Boerne to make sure you’re registered in time.
Nearly half of states allow same-day voter registration; Texas does not. A whopping *43* states allow online voter registration. Texas is one of only seven states that does not. A federal judge recently stopped the state from investigating alleged cases of vote harvesting. The Texas Tribune stated that he “ruled that part of a Texas law that enacted new voting restrictions violated the U.S. Constitution by being too vague and restricting free speech.” Sensing a pattern here?
Early voting runs from Monday, October 21-Friday, November 1. (You can find hours on the KCEO website.) The main early voting site is at the KCEO office on Fawn Valley. You can also cast your ballot early in Comfort (at the First Baptist Church) on Friday and Saturday, October 25 and 26.
Election Day is Tuesday, November 5. Polls will be open from 7am-7pm. You can find a full list of all eleven voting centers on the KCEO website.
Kendall County has one of the state’s best election departments. Elections Administrator Staci Decker and her staff are very organized and detail-oriented, and they provide thorough training of all election workers. Rest assured that your vote will be recorded and counted accurately and that the voting machines are secure. There will be two Judges at each polling location–one Democrat and one Republican–plus several election clerks divided evenly between Democrats and Republicans.
Despite persistent claims of voter fraud, there is *no* evidence of it. After the 2020 election, over 60 court cases, some adjudicated by judges appointed by Republicans, found no widespread fraud.
The Kendall County Democratic Party website has all the information you need before you vote. Click the “Important Upcoming Dates” link at the top of the page for candidate information, a sample ballot, polling locations, and more.
The top-line races—President, Senator, and Congressman—have enjoyed lots of media coverage. But you also need to vote down-ballot for offices like Railroad Commissioner, Texas Senate District 25, Texas House District 19, State Board of Education Place 10, and judicial seats. Make sure to vote in all seventeen of the contested races.
With interest in the election and its candidates so high, there may be long lines at polling locations on Election Day. We encourage you to vote early. On Election Day, consider a polling location that (generally) has fewer voters, such as the Sisterdale Community Center or Waring Fire House.
Remember that “electioneering” (promoting a specific candidate) is not allowed within 100 feet of a polling location. Please do not wear political shirts, pins, hats, etc. when you vote. Election workers will ask you to remove any such items or turn the shirt inside-out before checking you in to vote.
Please bring your photo ID when you vote. Acceptable forms of photo ID include a Texas driver’s license; a Texas Election Identification Certificate (issued by DPS); a Texas personal identification card (issued by DPS); a Texas concealed handgun license; a US military ID including a photograph; a US citizenship certificate including a photograph; or a US passport. The KCEO website has full details on voter ID requirements, including what to do if you don’t have one or can’t get one.
If you have mobility issues, you may request to vote from your car (curbside voting). Simply call the Elections Office at the number listed on the curbside sign and request that a machine be brought out to you. You do not need to have a handicapped placard or license plate to take advantage of this service.
For a full list of Democratic candidates with links to their websites, visit www.kcdems.us.
Laura Bray is Chair of the Kendall County Democratic Party.
