Harris County: Here's A Missive From Your County Clerk

Republican Beverly Kaufman, Harris County Clerk just sent out the following. It's hard not to hear her say "Vote for Gene Locke" subliminally in every sentence (she sent out a robocall endorsing him, to the dismay of voters who think the person in charge of elections should not endorse in elections under which she has jurisdiction). You can still vote early through tomorrow. To find out more about early voting and Election Day polling locations, go to harrisvotes.com.

Voting infrastructure set for Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3^rd

Houston, TX-Harris County Clerk Beverly Kaufman announced today that 728 polls will be open and ready to receive registered voters on Tuesday, Nov. 3, General Election Day, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. According to the Clerk, 6,600 pieces of election equipment will be allocated throughout the county and almost 5,000 election clerks will be working during this election.

“The election infrastructure is set. I strongly encourage registered voters who did not vote during the early voting period to consider doing so on Election Day”, said Clerk Kaufman, the chief elections officer of the County. “This election cycle may not be as captivating as a national election, but it may be more important.”

During the upcoming Harris County Joint Election 120 individuals will be vying for 40 positions in political subdivisions within County. Of those, sixty-two are candidates for City of Houston public office, including the positions of mayor, controller and city council. Overall, there a total of 60 contests on the ballot. Of those, 20 are propositions. The most prominent contests are the State constitutional amendments.

“Voters should be aware that anytime an election includes statewide propositions those items will appear first on the ballot. In this instance, it means that all voters, whether they reside in Houston or other political subdivisions, will see the 11 state propositions at the top of their ballot before they see anything else.”

The County Clerk reminded voters that the law provides that a voter can ONLY vote in contests offered by a political subdivision which is connected to the physical address in which a voter is registered to vote. To find out which political subdivisions are connected to a voter’s address, a voter may visit the following link on the Tax Assessor Collectors website: http://www.hctax.net/ASP/streetguide/frameset.asp. An individual may also check voter registration status with the Tax office by calling 713. 368. 2200 or by visitinghttp://www.tax.co.harris.tx.us/Voter/voter.aspx.

The Clerk also reminded voters to know where they are going to vote before leaving their homes on Election Day. The law provides that on Election Day a voter must vote at the poll where the precinct the voter is registered to vote is voting.  For voter identification purposes at the poll, registered voters are urged to take at least ONE of the following acceptable documents:

1.        A voter registration certificate;

2.        A driver's license or personal identification card issued to the voter by the Department of Public Safety or a similar document issued to the voter by an agency of another state, regardless of whether the license or card has expired;

3.        A form of identification containing the voter’s photograph that establishes the voter’s identity;

4.        A birth certificate or other document confirming birth that is admissible in a court of law and establishes the voter’s identity;

5.        United States citizenship papers issued to the voter;

6.        A United States passport issued to the voter;

7.        Official mail addressed to the voter, by name, from a governmental entity;

8.        A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the voter’s name and address.

           

For more Election Day information voters may visit www.harrisvotes.com and click ‘Find Election Day Poll and View Voter Specific Ballot.’ Voters may also call 713.755.6965, Harris County’s automated election information line.