Partisan and racial gerrymandering are major contributors to the current polarization in our nation. This polarization has led to a dysfunctional government dominated by extreme views. Moderate conservative and moderate progressive voters are often left out of the discussion, letting extreme views dominate.
Under Jane Nelson's leadership, the TxSoS Elections Division, previously a very efficient and responsive agency, has become much more difficult to work with. Issues run from inaccurate and late voter file updates and voter history files to not sending out voter registration cards. It’s clear that our Republican leadership wants the Texas election system to fail. It’s long past time to elect statewide leadership that works in the interests of voters, not against them. Time to elect Democratic leadership.
Our judicial system appears to be the only entity protecting us from a totalitarian regime bent on taking complete control of our nation. The huge number of losses in court by this administration is thanks to organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and closer to home, the Texas Freedom Network.
CEOs are now being paid 280 times that of a typical worker. This happens because the system is rigged for the wealthy. The richest 1% of our population own 34% of the nation’s wealth--more than 10 times that of the bottom 50%. The top 100 richest families gave $2.6 billion to federal elections in 2024. There are numerous things we can do to address the issues, such as enact laws that make all political contributions public with full disclosure of the donors and antitrust laws.
Early voting begins on Tuesday and runs through February 27. Early voting is held at the KCEO office on Fawn Valley. (Unfortunately, due to changes passed by the Texas Legislature, Comfort will not have an early voting location.) Election Day is Tuesday, March 3. Kendall County will have eleven polling locations, and you can vote at any one of them.
Texas ranks 46th in “ease of voting,” according to a 2022 study in the “Election Law Journal.” The study states, “voting still is not easy in Texas [as compared to 2020]. Implement these 4 steps to make voting easier in Texas: implement online voter registration, allow anyone to cast an absentee ballot, simplify the process for a mail-in ballot, and broaden the range of acceptable photo IDs.
In an election in the fall of 2023, voters approved the $1 billion “Centennial Parks Conservation Fund,” named in honor of the 100th anniversary of Texas State Parks in 2023. According to an article in the Texas Tribune, “The fund allows the parks department to expand access to natural spaces across the state, while preserving native ecosystems and cultural landmarks.” Three of these planned park expansions are Enchanted Rock State Park which is adding more than 5,000 acres, the new Albert and Bessie Kronkosky State Natural Area near Pipe Creek, and the new Post Oak Ridge State Park in Lampasas and Burnet counties.
Legislation proposed that is not explicitly covered by the Texas Constitution must be approved by 2/3 majority in each house and be offered to the citizens for a vote. If a majority of citizens voting in the November election approve the amendment it becomes part of the constitution. Future changes would require another constitutional amendment. 17 have been certified for the ballot. The 17 propositions on this year’s ballot cover taxes and tax exemptions, dedicated funds, judiciary, public safety, water infrastructure, and personal rights. Your vote is important! Prepare and make your vote count.
Immigration and border security enforcement have gone haywire. The current government is building concentration camps and sending innocent people, along with criminals, to these camps and to countries that they don’t hail from, all without due process. The only solution that a vast majority of the American public want is complete control of the border, deportation of undocumented criminals, a vibrant and consistent immigration program to keep our economy growing, and most of all a pathway to stay and work here for the vast majority of undocumented folks with long term ties and no criminal record.
After months of speculation, the President finally told Texas Congressional Republicans earlier in July that he aims to gain five seats from the mid-census redistricting in Texas. Instead of using this Special Session to provide flood relief and disaster mitigation, Gov. Abbott is exploiting the tragedy to serve the President’s unpopular and damaging agenda. Texas needs a non-partisan districting commission to keep both parties from playing the gerrymandering game.