Voting After the Hurricane: Make Sure Your Voice is Heard

Hurricane Ike has caused thousands of southeast Texans to be displaced.  But, you can still make sure that your voice is heard on election day.  If you have been able to return home, contact your county elections office to find out if your voting location has moved because of the hurricane.

You may also choose to vote early.  Early voting begins October 20 and lasts until Friday October 31.  Early voting may be easier than you think. If you are still in your home county, you can vote early in person.  When you vote early in person you don't have to stand in long lines on Election Day and there are many additional locations where you can cast your ballot. 

If you have difficulty walking or standing for long periods of time, you can even vote without getting out of your car.  Just call ahead to let the voting clerk know that you would like “curbside voting.”  The election official will bring your ballot to your car outside the polling place.  Call your county election official to find out which locations are convient for you.

If you have been displaced by the hurricanre, early voting can offer you the opportunity to make sure that your vote counts.  You can use early voting to vote by mail if you are:

• going to be away from your county on Election Day and during early voting;
• sick or disabled;
• 65 years of age or older on Election Day; or
• confined in jail, but eligible to vote.

To vote by mail, you can fill out an application online, or just send a note that includes:

• your name and the address where you are registered to vote;
• the address where you would like to receive your ballot;
• the statement “I want to vote in the November 4 election;”
• a sentence stating why you are eligible to vote early by mail (from the list above); and
• your signature (or a witness' signature if you cannot sign).

The application for a mail-in ballot must be received by the Early Voting Clerk in your home county no later than Tuesday, October 28.  You will be sent a ballot at the address you requested.  The early voting clerk must receive your completed ballot by 7 p.m. on Election Day.