*** CAPITOL UPDATE ***
Secretary of State Fact Sheet on Early Voting and Statewide Propositions
AUSTIN — Recently, Texas Secretary of State Hope Andrade released information regarding the upcoming General Election, including election dates, early voting information and early voting facts. In addition, the Secretary of State addressed rumors surrounding statewide propositions on the General Election ballot. The full text of the releases can be found below. For additional information, please visit www.votetexas.org.
Important Election Dates
- Early Voting in person: October 18-29
- Election Day: November 2
Important Election Dates
- Any registered Voter may vote early in person at any early voting location within their county.
- A voter is eligible to vote early by mail if they are:
- 65 years old or older on Election Day;
- Going to be away from their county on Election Day and during early voting;
- Sick or disabled; or
- Confined in jail, but eligible to vote.
Early Voting Facts
With early voting, Texans have 12 days to vote instead of 12 hours on Election Day.
- Early voting in person was passed by the Legislature in 1987 and was first used in the Nov. 1987 election on constitutional amendments.
- In the March 2010 primary elections, 41% of the total votes cast were through early voting.
- In the November 2008 general election, 66% of the total votes cast were through early voting. This turnout rate was an all-time high.
- In the November 2006 governor’s race, 39% of the total votes cast were through early voting.
While Texans will go to the polls on Nov. 2 to decide who will represent them in many federal, state, district and local offices, there are no statewide propositions on the ballot that day, according to Secretary of State Hope Andrade.
Rumors — fueled by an e-mail circulating around the state — of a constitutional amendment on the ballot regarding the homestead tax are not accurate, Andrade said.
“Our office has been contacted by citizens that received or heard of the e-mail,” said Andrade. “We want to make sure people have correct information and are prepared to vote on the issues before them. It is an important election, but there are no statewide constitutional amendments on the Nov. 2 ballot.”
To contact Sen. Deuell about the legislative process or if you have a suggestion for a future Capitol Update, please contact the Capitol Office at (512) 463-0102 or send mail to Sen. Bob Deuell, Texas Senate, P.O. Box 12068, Austin, TX 78711. The website for the Texas Senate is www.senate.state.tx.us. The e-mail address for Sen. Deuell is: bob.deuell@senate.state.tx.us.