January 31st is the last day to register to vote in the March 1st Primary Election. Lest you are tempted to shrug it off and wait to vote in the November General Election, let me explain why the primary is so very important. Through partisan gerrymandering, districts are drawn to almost ensure that one party will win that district, so the election will be determined between candidates in that primary election. That holds true for about 95% of legislative districts in Texas, so the primary is THE election!
Texas is one of 21 states that have “open primaries.” Unlike states with closed primaries, where voters register with a specific party and that is the only primary they are allowed to vote in, Texas voters do not register with a specific party. Any registered voter can vote in either the Republican or Democratic primary election. You get to pick. Come November, you can vote for any candidate on your ballot, no matter which party’s primary you voted in.
Please make sure you are registered to vote before the upcoming deadline – Monday, January 31st. The people you pick will make important decisions about school funding, assessment and accountability, educator issues, vouchers, and more. Your vote is your voice, and you can’t vote unless you are registered!
To Do:
- Make sure that you are registered to vote. Check your voter registration status here.
- If you have moved recently, you may need to update your registration. Review this checklist to determine if you need to re-register.
- If you need to register to vote, you can get started here.
- Make sure to watch these League of Women Voters of Texas short videos if you need help.
How to update your voter registration online
Three Ways to Register to Vote in Texas
How to Check if You Are Registered to Vote
Social media posts to share:
- “Your vote is your voice – make sure you are registered so you can be heard at the ballot box.” #Txed #Txlege #Vote #TxEdVote
- “Texas has open primary elections. You can pick which party’s election you vote in – but you have to register first!” #Txed #Txlege #Vote #TxEdVote
- “January 31 is the last day to register to vote in the March 1 primary election. Make sure you are ready!” #Txed #TxLege #Vote #TxEdVote
Voting in the upcoming March 1st Primary Election is one of the most important things you can do.
Make sure you are ready,
Laura Yeager
Texas Educators Vote