I’m a College Student Voting in Texas.

What Do I Need to Know?

By LOGAN DUBEL

Adulthood?

Turning 18 and entering adulthood brings about a multitude of new responsibilities, including the right to voice your vote in our nation’s democratic system. As many college students across Texas prepare to vote for the very first time in the upcoming and highly consequential midterm elections, many are left wondering how they can cast a ballot on Nov. 8, 2022. Read below for expert answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about voting in Texas.

How Do I Register To Vote?

The first and most important step is to REGISTER! To be eligible to vote in Texas, people must register by the 30th day before the election. This year’s deadline to register is Oct. 11. Each county individually administers registrations. Prospective voters can register at 17 years and 10 months old. Not sure if you’re registered? Click here to check your registration.

Many universities make it easy for students to register through organizations on campus, such as Hook the Vote and Texas Votes at the University of Texas at Austin.

Students in any state can check out Vote.org. The website allows people to directly register to vote. It only takes a few minutes!
For Texas-specific information, check out SOS 101: Voter Registration in Texas, a new video series released by Texas Secretary of State John Scott, explaining everything

I’m From Out of State, but I Attend College Here. Can I Vote in Texas?

Many universities make it easy for students to register through organizations on campus, such as Hook the Vote and Texas Votes at the University of Texas at Austin.

I Can’t Go Back To My Hometown on Election Day. Can I Vote By Mail?

You bet! If voting by mail, be sure to know the rules and regulations. According to the new string of voting laws passed by Gov. Greg Abbott in 2021, Texans voting by mail must be over age 65, have a disability, face confinement due to childbirth or a jail sentence, or be outside of their county of residence on Election Day and the early voting period.

Many college students may be away from home during the voting period, and will therefore qualify to vote by mail. To receive an absentee ballot from your hometown, fill out an application and provide an alternative address as well as the dates you will be outside of your official county of residence.

Click here to view the application to vote by mail. All counties must receive (postmarkings do not count) mail-in ballot requests by Oct. 28. Prospective voters can print a ballot and mail it, request an application to be mailed to them, email/fax the application, or drop it off in person.

Additionally, voting by mail now requires heightened measures. Once receiving a ballot, voters must provide a copy of their driver’s license or the last four digits of their Social Security number.

I’m From Texas. Should I Vote in My Hometown or Collegetown?

Just as out-of-state students can choose to register in Texas, in-state students can also register in the county in which they attend college rather than using their home address. For example, students who have a greater vested interest in a local city council race or mayor’s seat who attend school in Austin and have a temporary residence, but officially reside in Dallas can choose to register to vote in Austin instead.

“People often don’t vote because they believe their vote doesn’t count at the federal or state level. However, in hyper-local races, your vote can make a difference, and those are the elected officials who have the biggest influence on everyday life,” Sam Taylor, assistant secretary of state for communications, said. “Doing your research will help you know what races are more competitive and can decide where in Texas you want to register to vote.”

How Do I Vote By Mail?

So long as mail-in ballots are postmarked by 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 8, and received by 5 p.m. on Nov. 9, they will count. If concerned about whether your ballot will arrive in time, you can deliver it to a county election office on Election Day.

To find and contact your county election office, click here.

County authorities must inform voters if there are problems with their applications or ballots, with the option to correct them. The correction deadline is Nov. 14. Voters can also track their mail-in ballots using a new tracking tool.

Can I Vote Early?

For sure!

Texas offers early voting from Oct. 24 through Nov. 4. Anyone registered to vote can vote early, however, early voting is only available in person unless you are eligible to vote absentee. You can vote at any polling location in your county that offers early voting, but polling locations may be different for early voting than on Election Day.

Early voting locations will become available in the “My Voter Portal” two days before the first day of early voting.

Texas was a pioneer for in-person early voting in the late 1980s and expects the majority of citizens to vote early in 2022.

Where Can I Vote?

For early voting, citizens in all counties can vote at any polling location within their district.

On Election Day, many counties participate in the Countywide Polling Place Program, which allows citizens to vote at any polling location within their district. However, others require voters to cast ballots at a specific precinct.

Remember, early voting polling places may differ from Election Day polling locations.

Click here for information about finding your polling place. Precincts will populate in the “My Voter Portal” two days before Election Day.

What Time Are Polls Open on Election Day?

Polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Nov. 8.

Will I Vote by Paper or Electronically?

Many jurisdictions will allow voters to cast their ballots on paper. However, some will provide access codes or ballot activator cards and will then guide voters through an electronic ballot process.

Texas Secretary of State John Scott recently released a video explaining how voting systems operate.
“Here are a couple of key facts that you, as a Texas voter, should know when it comes to the Security of our voting systems: (1) voting machines in Texas are never connected to the internet; (2) only the software that our office certifies can be loaded on voting equipment; and (3) All voting machines in Texas are tested for logic and accuracy three times – twice before the election, and once immediately after the election.”

Podcast: Ashley Joo explains how 18-year-olds got the right to vote.

‘I can’t find you in the system’

The disappointment still lingers for one would-be voter

By SOFIA VARGAS KARAM

This was harder than I thought it was going to be. Almost two years ago, just when I thought I had my act together, I found out I didn’t– and it was devastating.

I was still doing online classes because of the COVID-19 pandemic, so driving to my high school felt out of place. But I was thrilled.

Just two months after I turned 18 I was finally going to be able to vote in a presidential election. To me, this meant so much more than just a vote – it reinforced the United States citizenship I received only a couple of years before. As a Mexican immigrant, it always felt strange explaining to others the idea of dual citizenship – even more, the idea of wanting to be politically active.

I arrived at the voting booth at James E. Taylor High School in Katy and immediately became more eager when I saw people coming out of the building with “I voted” stickers on them.

My best friend, Korinne Barrau, volunteered to be an election worker. At the time she was not yet 18, so her helping out meant she was doing her civic duty. I sent her a text to let her know I was there, and she greeted me at the door. I stood in line and waited my turn to check in.

I handed my ID to the volunteer. She said, “I can’t find you in the system.” I began to get overwhelmed, even though the booths seemed quiet, the check-in area had a lot of commotion. All of a sudden I felt as if I was in a situation of chaos, even though the setting was probably much calmer than what I was feeling.

The phrase “I can’t find you in the system” is one I had heard too often. I would show up on the first day of school and the teacher would not be able to find my name. Roll call would happen and my name was never called. Why? I’m guessing it’s because I have two last names, Vargas and Karam. My dad and mom’s last names make up my full name, but often Karam gets mistaken as my first name or Vargas as my middle name. I understood it was complicated at times so while I was still at the check-in booth I regathered myself and asked the volunteer to check again … and again, and again.

Nothing. I was nowhere to be found.

I walked back to my car feeling frustrated and even embarrassed. “Why is this happening to me?” I thought. I called my dad to rant at him. He remembers me being angry – to be honest, I do not remember the call. I felt furious, but I did not know at whom.

I thought of all the different things that could’ve happened: did the registration get lost in the mail? That couldn’t be the case because I am someone who triple-checks everything. Did I spell something wrong? I had no idea – and to this day I still have no idea. I was 18, I am a U.S. citizen, I was a resident of the Texas county in which application for registration is made. I do not have any felonies, and I registered.

My dad and I called all of the people we could. I checked the VoteTexas.gov website, and it said I was registered. I checked with my friends who registered at the same time I did; they were all able to vote. I even went back to the voting site several times to attempt it again and got the same result each time.

According to data on turnout and voter registration, the percent of turnout to registered in the 2020 presidential elections was 66.73%, compared to 59.39% in 2018. I wanted to be part of the 66.73% turnout, I wanted my vote to count, to make an impact. I was one out of the 16,955,519 people who were registered to vote – but my number is not included in the turnout.

I am writing this as a journalist, which is why this is hard. It is hard to write from a first-person perspective when you are used to reporting about others. It is hard thinking back on a time when I felt helpless – despite the lack of control during the pandemic voting felt like a grasp of hope.

This is a story that needs to be told. I want to ensure we all take the correct steps to guarantee we can play our part in our democracy. When registering triple-check your county, spelling, date of birth and zip code. If needed, update your address – now that I live in Austin I want to be able to vote for representatives here so I had to update my address. Keep track of the date you send in your registration and where you do it. Something I did not do was keep a receipt of my registration, after the County Voter Registrars’ office receives the application or is postmarked 30 days before an election. We all should receive a voter registration certificate in the mail. This is something we should sign, fold and keep in it in our wallets to take to the polling site when we vote.

This time around, I am optimistic, but I am also nervous. This situation happened to me during a presidential election, at a time when I felt my part in democracy was necessary. Now as the midterm elections are upon us I still feel my right to vote is crucial, but I worry my peers do not understand the importance – I worry they will be ill-prepared or confused.

It makes me nervous to think in the March 2022 primary “more than 18,000 mail-in ballots were rejected, most for failing to meet the new law’s ID requirements,” according to The Texas Tribune. I wonder how we can all be prepared to the point where situations like that do not happen—to where people like my friend Korinne ,who volunteered at the polls back in 2020 can easily vote even though she is now out of the country.

I am hoping when I get to the voting booth this year, everything will go smoothly. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good drama — but not when it interferes with my right to vote.

Sofia Vargas Karam is a Journalism and Media major at the University of Texas at Austin.

What Do I Need To Vote?

Do NOT forget at least one form of acceptable photo identification. There are seven forms of acceptable photo identification: Texas driver’s license, Texas election ID certificate, Texas personal ID card, Texas handgun license, U.S. military ID, U.S. passport, or U.S. citizenship certificate with photo.

If you are unable to reasonably obtain one of these forms of identification, click here.

Which Elections Can I Vote In?

This election cycle, the offices of the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, comptroller, land commissioner, and agriculture commissioner are on the ballot.

To see which federal and local races you are eligible to vote for, check out this tool powered by The Texas Tribune here.
For additional questions, visit VoteTexas.gov, authorized by the Texas Secretary of State.

Why Should I Vote?

Because it’s your right!

“Voting when you’re a college student is the start of an extremely important lifelong tradition. You should always plan to vote,” Sam Taylor, assistant secretary of state for communications, said. “People who don’t take the opportunity to vote now may not do so later. It’s a good tradition for not only you, but your family, friends, and future network, who you may encourage to vote as well.”

Once I Vote, What Information Will Texas Officials Provide?

Texas has implemented new measures to increase transparency for voters in the upcoming 2022 elections.

Most importantly, each county will now post a reconciliation form on Election Night, showing the counted votes and estimated outstanding ballots, as well as their source. This aims to quell questions and concerns over voter integrity by allowing voters to see when and where votes are coming from post-election.

Logan Dubel is a freshman Journalism and Media major at the University of Texas at Austin.

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