If you hadn’t noticed from the countless roadside campaign signs, TV ads and text messages spamming your phone \u2014 we’re in the middle of a pivotal midterm election. Candidates in local school board races all the way up to the U.S. Congress are vying for your vote leading up to Nov. 3. Depending on where you live, you may also get to decide on propositions that shape the future of your community (and your tax bill).<\/p>\n
This guide is here to help you navigate what\u2019s on your ballot, make a plan to vote, and get that \u2018I Voted\u2019 sticker.<\/p>\n
KUT News has also put together voter guides for Williamson County<\/a> and Hays County<\/a>.<\/p>\n What\u2019s on my ballot?\u00a0<\/p>\n Travis County voters will receive a very packed, very wordy ballot.<\/p>\n Several key federal and statewide positions will be decided this election, including U.S. Senator, governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, agricultural commissioner and comptroller.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll also vote on who you want to represent your area in the U.S. House of Representatives, the Texas House of Representatives, and the Texas Senate. And you’ll decide on which justices should preside over the state\u2019s two high courts: the Texas Supreme Court, which is the court of last resort for civil cases, and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, which handles criminal ones. You\u2019ll also get to vote on who should be the newest member of the State Board of Education, which sets standards for public schools in Texas, as well who should be on the Austin Independent School District board.<\/p>\n Depending on where you live, you might vote on one of the five Austin City Council seats up for grabs. You can check which city council district you live in using this interactive map<\/a>. The city of Austin also has two multi-million dollar bond propositions for libraries and parks, and several amendments to the city charter, which is like Austin\u2019s own mini constitution.<\/p>\n There are over a dozen uncontested county-level races on the ballot, including County Judge, County Clerk, justices of the peace and county commissioners. These candidates are all Democrats with no Republican challenger. A vote in these races won’t change who wins the election, but whether you cast a vote or not does signal if there’s strong support for a candidate. If there isn’t, it could motivate Republicans to run for the position next election. <\/p>\n You can find a generic sample ballot that shows all the races in Travis County here<\/a>.<\/p>\n You don\u2019t need to commit every candidate and proposition you want to vote for to memory. Paper notes are welcome in Texas polls. Just don\u2019t bring your phone, a laptop or any kind of recording device.<\/p>\n Am I registered to vote?<\/p>\n You can check your registration through the Texas Secretary of State’s voter portal<\/a> website. If you’re not registered, the deadline for this election has passed \u2014 but you can visit the Vote Texas website<\/a> to learn how to register for future elections.<\/p>\n Are you listed as a voter in suspense? People are placed on the suspense list when officials believe they might have moved. If your address is outdated, it’s too late for this election to make the change online<\/a>. But don’t worry, you can still vote \u2014 you just have to go through some extra steps.<\/a> If you moved to a different address within Travis County, you can still vote at any polling place during early voting or on Election Day. If you\u2019re registered to vote in a different county in Texas, you can still vote in Travis County, but you can only cast your ballot at the Travis County Clerk\u2019s Office during early voting, and you will be given a limited ballot.<\/p>\n When and where can I vote?<\/p>\n Early voting in Travis County begins Oct. 19 and runs through Oct. 30. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Travis County residents can vote at any polling location within the county. A list of all polling locations in the county is available here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Travis County polling locations are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. As long as you’re in line by the time polls close, you can cast your ballot.<\/p>\n On the last two days of early voting, Thursday, Oct. 29, and Friday, Oct. 30, seven early voting locations will be open until 10 p.m. Those locations are:<\/p>\n Ben Hur Shrine CenterLakeway Activity CenterMillennium Youth Entertainment Complex\u00a0PfISD Rock GymRandalls BrodieTravis County Clerk, 5501 Airport Blvd.UT Texas Union<\/p>\n Here’s a map of all the places you can vote early in Travis County:<\/p>\n What do I bring with me to the polls?<\/p>\n You should bring a photo ID when you vote. Seven forms of ID are accepted:<\/p>\n Texas driver’s licenseTexas election identification certificateTexas personal identification cardTexas handgun licenseU.S. military identification card that includes your photographU.S. citizenship certificate that includes your photographU.S. passport\u00a0<\/p>\n The ID can be expired for up to four years. If you’re 70 or older, the ID can be expired for any amount of time.<\/p>\n If you can’t get one of those forms of ID, here are the alternatives you can bring:<\/p>\n government document showing your name and an address, such as your voter registration certificatecurrent utility billbank statementgovernment checkpaycheckcertified birth certificate or court admissible birth document<\/p>\n All of these documents can either be a copy or the original. If you use one of them, you\u2019ll have to sign a form that says you had a reasonable impediment<\/a> to getting an ID.<\/p>\n What not to do at the polls<\/p>\n Campaigning is prohibited at polling places. Within 100 feet of a voting location, political signs, literature and other campaign materials may not be distributed. Voters also may not wear clothing or other items supporting a political candidate, party or ballot measure, even if the measure or candidate does not appear on that day\u2019s ballot.<\/p>\n Voters also cannot collect audio or video recordings inside a polling place. While phones may be used while waiting in line, they cannot be used in the room where voting is taking place. Any notes used at the ballot box must be physical.<\/p>\n Voting by mail<\/p>\n The deadline to apply to vote by mail is Oct. 23. This means applications must be received by your county\u2019s early voting clerk by this date; not just postmarked.<\/p>\n Registered voters in Texas can vote by mail if they:<\/p>\n will be away from their county on Election Day and during early voting;are sick or disabled;are 65 or older on Election Day;\u00a0are confined in jail, but eligible to vote; orare expecting to give birth within three weeks before or after Election Day<\/p>\n