HOUSTON – Getting out to vote can take more than finding a polling place. For some Houstonians, transportation is a challenge. Others may need help understanding their voting rights or simply a reminder that an election is approaching.
Several organizations across the Houston area are working to address those barriers, from contacting voters in their communities to providing transportation for seniors and helping people understand their rights at the polls.
OCA-Greater Houston and the NAACP are among the organizations working to make voting more accessible, particularly for people who may face additional obstacles participating in elections.
OCA-Greater Houston reaches Asian American voters
Debbie Chen with OCA-Greater Houston says the organization is working to encourage more Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community members to participate in elections.
Its outreach includes knocking on doors, making phone calls, sending text messages and mailers, and hosting community events to connect with voters.
The organization is also helping seniors get to voting centers, a service Chen says OCA-Greater Houston has provided since the 1990s.
Election Day Hotline Numbers (OCA-Greater Houston)
Depending on the election, the group has helped between 50 and 500 seniors get transportation to the polls. Chen expects fewer than 100 seniors will use the service this year.
The group also plans to conduct an exit survey on Election Day with the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund. The survey will examine what issues matter to voters, why they decided to vote and whether they regularly participate in elections.
Chen says she has seen more members of the AAPI community become involved in voting since 2012.
OCA-Greater Houston is also helping voters prepare before they arrive at a polling location by providing a ballot-builder resource. Voters can scan a QR code, enter their address and see the races and districts on their ballot. The tool can help people understand what they will be voting on before Election Day.
Chen says voter education is particularly important because some voters may receive incorrect information about the voting process.
“Some places just may have newer poll workers who are not as familiar with the process,” Chen said, explaining that mistakes can lead to voters being incorrectly told their identification is not sufficient.
OCA-Greater Houston also distributes flyers and door hangers with hotline numbers where voters can seek assistance with questions about the voting process and their rights. Chen says some of those hotlines are staffed by volunteers and attorneys.
Need voting assistance? Seniors and community members interested in OCA-Greater Houston’s voter outreach or transportation services can visit the organization’s website to find contact information and ask about assistance available during this election.
NAACP works to connect voters with resources
The NAACP is also working to reach voters throughout the Greater Houston area.
Yolanda Smith says the organization’s get-out-the-vote campaign includes daily phone banking and text messages to encourage people to participate in elections.
The group also works with voters to develop a plan for voting, helping them think through what they need to do before heading to the polls.
“People died for us to have the right,” Smith said. “Not all of our grandparents and our elders had this privilege, so we need to take this seriously.”
Smith says their organization also has a team that picks up senior citizens at Heritage Estates, an income-restricted senior housing community for adults 55 and older in north Houston.
Beyond helping people reach the polls, the NAACP plans to provide legal advocacy on Election Day to help voters understand their rights.
The organization also prepares to address voter concerns involving the presence of immigration enforcement officers at polling locations.
Need help with voting rights? Houston-area voters can visit the NAACP’s voting rights and voter protection resources to learn more about voting access and voter protection efforts. Seniors seeking transportation should contact the local NAACP chapter to ask about ride availability and arrangements for this election.
Voters who encounter problems at the polls can also contact the nonpartisan Election Protection hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) for assistance.
Why voter assistance matters
For voters juggling work, family responsibilities and other everyday demands, getting to the polls can require planning. For seniors and people without reliable transportation, that challenge can be even greater.
Community organizations are working to close some of those gaps by connecting voters with transportation, sharing election information and helping them understand their rights.
The organization encourages voters who encounter problems or have questions about their ability to vote to seek assistance rather than assume they cannot cast a ballot.
Their work also extends beyond Election Day. Door-to-door outreach, phone banking, text messages and community events give organizations opportunities to reach people who may not otherwise seek out election information.
For OCA-Greater Houston and the NAACP, the goal is to help more people participate in the voting process and ensure they have resources available if questions or problems arise.
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