With the November 8th Election Day right around the corner, now is the time to make sure you are registered to vote. During the March 2016 primary elections, the Texas Secretary of State’s office reported record voter turnout numbers, with 4.2 million people casting ballots across the state. Despite this increase, Texas still had one of the lowest voter-eligible participation rates in the country at 24.7%. To help encourage more turnout in our area, I would like to share some important voting information, including key dates and registration requirements, to help ensure all eligible individuals have the opportunity to take part this Election Day.
In order to vote in Texas, eligible voters must register to vote thirty days prior to Election Day. This year, the deadline to send in an application is Tuesday, October 11, 2016. Current voter registration status can be determined by searching the state’s voter database using a driver’s license number, Voter Unique Identifier number, or name and county of residence. This database can be found by visiting VoteTexas.Gov. The Nueces County Voter Registrar’s Office can also help to provide information regarding registration status by phone at (361) 888-0404.
The first step to becoming a registered voter is to determine eligibility status. According to the Secretary of State’s office, Texas voters must meet the following eligibility requirements:
• be a U.S. citizen;
• be a resident of the county;
• be 18 years old (you may register at 17 years and 10 months);
• not a convicted felon (certain persons may be eligible if a sentence is completed, including any probation or parole); and
• not declared mentally incapacitated by a court of law.
Should you meet these requirements, the next step in registering to vote is to fill out a voter application. Voter applications can be found at a number of different locations throughout our area, including public libraries, post offices, and local Texas Department of Public Safety offices. In addition, you can also fill out and print an application online. Online applications can be found the Secretary of State. Once an application has been properly filled out and signed, it should be mailed to the Nueces County Voter Registrar’s Office located at 901 Leopard, Ste. 301 Corpus Christi 78401 no later than October 11, 2016.
In addition to the October 11th voter registration deadline, there are several other key dates to keep in mind during this election cycle. Early voting begins on October 24, 2016 and ends on November 4, 2016. For qualified individuals unable to vote in person during this election cycle, applications for a ballot-by-mail must be received by the Early Voting Clerk no later than October 28, 2016. These mail-in ballots must be returned by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day in order to be counted. However, the deadline to receive overseas military ballots is November 14, 2016.
As with prior elections, registered voters can vote at any polling location during early voting. However, there is one important change to note for those planning to vote on Election Day this year. For the first time, Nueces County voters will be able to cast their ballot at any polling location similar to early voting. Previously, voters were required to vote at a specific precinct on Election Day.
To find voting locations and times, please visit the Nueces County Clerk’s election. For more information about voting by mail, please call the Nueces County Clerk’s office at 361.888.0611 or visit Ballot By Mail . For additional information regarding voting in Texas, please visit the Secretary of State’s voter website.
If you would like to review more about the legislature, please visit the Texas Legislature online. If you have questions regarding any of the information mentioned in this week’s article, please do not hesitate to call my Capitol or District Office. As always, my offices are available at any time to assist with questions, concerns or comments (Capitol Office, 512-463-0672; District Office; 361-949-4603).
– State Representative Todd Hunter, District 32
Rep. Hunter represents Nueces County (Part). He can be contacted at todd.hunter@house.state.tx.us or at 512-463-0672.
