Austin, TX – As early voting gets underway, Travis County residents turn their attention to the upcoming May 4 elections. A wide range of issues are set to be voted on, including the election of appraisal district directors, disannexation proposals, and even a new mayor for Leander.
Details on Early Voting
Registered and eligible Texans are eligible to vote at any early voting location in the county where they reside. Early voting locations were made accessible through the Vote Texas website two days before the commencement of early voting. Voters can easily find these locations by inputting their information into the website.
Early voting for the May 4 election will be held from Monday, April 22, through Tuesday, April 30. During this period, polling place hours may vary depending on the location. However, on Election Day, all polling places across Texas will be open from 7 am to 7 pm. As long as voters get in line before 7 pm, they will be allowed to cast their votes.
Election Day Procedures
On Election Day, voters will need to check if their county participates in the Countywide Polling Place Program (CWPP). If their county is part of this program, they can vote at any polling place within the county. Conversely, those in counties that do not participate in CWPP can only vote at their specific polling place assigned to them.
For absentee voters who submitted ballots by mail, the status of their ballots can be tracked using the tracker provided by the election office.
What to Bring to Vote
Voters should remember to bring a form of identification when they go to vote. Acceptable forms of photo identification include those issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety – such as a Texas Driver’s License, Election Identification Certificate, Personal Identification Card, or Handgun License – as well as a U.S. Military Identification Card, U.S. Citizenship Certificate, and U.S. Passport (book or card).
Voters lacking the aforementioned valid photo identification may instead bring a copy or an original display of their voter registration certificate, a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or certified domestic birth certificate to execute a “Reasonable Impediment Declaration.”
Election Ballot Details
Ahead of the election, voters are encouraged to look up a sample ballot for their county to prepare for the voting process. This election will feature numerous local contests, bond proposals, and other important decisions on the ballot.
In an unprecedented move following modifications to the tax code, Texans in counties with a population of 75,000 or more will elect three people to their appraisal district board of directors. Additionally, residents in several neighborhoods annexed by the city of Austin will be voting on disannexation propositions. The critical decisions made in this election have the potential to heavily influence the future of Travis County and its residents.
