Election Information
Educators need to vote for candidates that support public education.
Find your legislators
Just about every time the Legislature passes unfavorable education-related bills, angry educators ask : “How can they do this us?” The answer to that question is always the same. It’s because the perception amongst legislators is that public school educators don’t vote, or at least, don’t vote for their profession. Whether it’s true or not, this perception makes it easy for legislators to vote for bad education bills without fear of losing votes come election time. This is a perception that needs to change if educators expect to have a voice at the Capitol. While it’s true that educators have made great strides in recent years to change this perception–in 2006, educators in Arlington organized to vote then-sitting House Public Education Chairman Kent Grusendorf out of office–there is still a long way to go. That’s why it is imperative that educators vote for candidates that support public education and encourage friends and colleagues to do the same.
Elections for seats in the Texas Legislature are held every two years. Legislators in the House of Representatives serve two-year terms, and senators serve staggered four-year terms. Elections for Governor and Lieutenant Governor are held every four years.
More information on participating in the election process.
The following are important dates to remember for the 2012 election season.
March 5–Last day to register to vote in primary elections.
March 19–First day of early voting.
March 30–Last day of early voting.
April 3–Primary election day.
May 29-June 1–Early voting for primary runoff elections.
June 5–Primary runoff elections.
Oct. 9–Last day to register to vote in general elections.
Oct. 23–First day of early voting.
Nov. 2–Last day of early voting.
Nov. 6–General Election Day.
For a wealth of election-related information, visit the Texas Secretary of State website at
www.sos.state.tx.us.
Early voting
Early voting is an easy and convenient way for busy educators to avoid the hassles of trying to get to the polls on Election Day. Unlike voting on Election Day, early voters do not have to vote at their precinct location. Simply go to any early voting location in your county, show your Texas driver license or voter registration card, and cast your ballot. To find early voting locations in your area, check your local newspaper or contact your local voter registrar’s office. You can find contact info for you local voter registrar at
www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/county.shtml.
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