Voting in California and Texas
We just voted in California. The state of California sent us our universal mail-in ballots. We researched the candidates and ballot propositions. We sat down and discussed them over dinner, filled out our ballots after dinner and then dropped them in the ballot drop-off box outside the nearby local library. Ordinarily, we would use the mail, but Postmaster General Dejoy is making that problematic. I much prefer the civic joys of voting in person, but not in a Covid pandemic.
In Texas, it appears to be a good bit harder to vote. https://www.texastribune.org/2020/10/08/texas-voting-laws-coronavirus-pandemic/ You are only eligible to vote absentee if you are over 65, disabled or ill to the point of not being able to go to the polls or in jail but eligible to vote. You must request your mail-in ballot timely and show how you are qualified for a mail in ballot. The pandemic is not an acceptable excuse in Texas or four other states.
There were four convenient ballot drop-off locations very close to us – mostly at library sites. In Texas, the Governor has limited this to one per county. This cut back the locations in Harris County (Houston) from 12 locations to 1 location. https://www.npr.org/2020/10/02/919658842/texas-governor-plans-to-limit-number-of-ballot-drop-boxes-to-1-per-county
Monday October 5 was the last day to register to vote in Texas. https://www.texastribune.org/2020/10/08/texas-voting-laws-coronavirus-pandemic/ In California, registration deadlines are: Online: Oct. 19, By mail: Postmarked by Oct. 19, or In person: Nov. 3. https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration In Texas, you can only register to vote on line if you are updating or renewing your driver’s license.
The Texas Supreme Court just enjoined Harris County from mailing absentee voter applications to all registered voters in the county. https://www.texastribune.org/2020/10/07/harris-county-mail-in-ballot-applications/
In order to register to vote in California or Texas you must have a valid ID demonstrating your citizenship. However when you come to the polls in Texas, you must bring a valid ID with you, like a passport, driver’s license or a license to carry a handgun, in order to be allowed to vote. https://www.texastribune.org/2020/10/08/texas-voting-laws-coronavirus-pandemic/
For a variety of such reasons, Texas ranks 47th in voter turnout. https://www.texastribune.org/2020/10/08/texas-voting-laws-coronavirus-pandemic/
In the 2018 Congressional elections, Colorado (universal mail in balloting) had 63% voter turn out and Texas (a leading voter suppression state) had 46% turnout. https://www.nonprofitvote.org/full-50-state-2018-turnout-ranking-voting-policy/
Congress needs to fix the state’s voter suppression strategies when it meets in January with a new President (we hope).
Prepared by: Lucien Wulsin
Dated: 10/9/20