Texas

Watch: Texas A&M students accuse Brazos County of voter suppression after moving on-campus voting site

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A bunch of Texas A&M College college students attended Brazos County commissioner hearings for the previous two months to debate one agenda merchandise — the county’s early-voting location.

Traditionally, Texas A&M hosted the polling location inside its campus on the Memorial Scholar Heart. This 12 months, nevertheless, the county commissioners put the situation as much as a vote. With a easy majority, it was determined that the situation could be moved to the newly constructed Metropolis Corridor proper within the middle of Faculty Station.

County Commissioner Nancy Berry, who oversees the precinct that features Texas A&M, cited the handy location of the Metropolis Corridor in addition to low voter turnout on the Texas A&M polling place as causes for shifting the early voting location. Nonetheless, information obtained by The Texas Tribune confirmed that it was one of many county’s hottest early-voting websites in current normal elections.

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When the Tribune first requested Berry about these figures, she mentioned that what she meant by low voter turnout was that the quantity of voters who confirmed up was a lot decrease than what they anticipated given the focus of individuals on the Texas A&M campus.

Voting FAQ: 2022 midterms

  • How do I do know if I am registered to vote?


    The deadline to register to vote within the 2022 main election was Oct. 11. Verify if you happen to’re registered to vote right here.

  • When can I vote early?


    Early voting runs from Oct. 24 to Nov. 4. Voters can solid ballots at any polling location within the county the place they’re registered to vote throughout early voting. Election day is Nov. 8.

  • How do I do know if I qualify to vote by mail?


    This feature is pretty restricted in Texas. You’re allowed to vote by mail provided that: You can be 65 or older by Election Day, you’ll not be in your county for the complete span of voting, together with early voting, you cite a illness or incapacity that forestalls you from voting in particular person with no need private help or with out the probability of injuring your well being, you’re anticipated to provide delivery inside three weeks earlier than or after Election Day or you’re confined in jail however in any other case eligible (i.e., not convicted of a felony).

  • Are polling areas the identical on election day as they’re throughout early voting?


    Not all the time. You’ll need to verify for open polling areas together with your native elections workplace earlier than you head out to vote. Moreover, you may affirm together with your county elections workplace whether or not election day voting is restricted to areas in your designated precinct or if you happen to can solid a poll at any polling place.

  • How can I discover which polling locations are close to me?


    County election places of work are purported to publish on their web sites info on polling areas for Election Day and through the early-voting interval by Oct. 18. The secretary of state’s web site may even have info on polling areas nearer to the beginning of voting. Nonetheless, polling areas could change, so be sure you verify your county’s election web site earlier than going to vote.

  • What type of ID do I must carry to vote?


    You’ll want one in all seven varieties of legitimate picture ID to vote in Texas: A state driver’s license, a Texas election identification certificates, a Texas private identification card, a Texas license to hold a handgun, a U.S. navy ID card with a private picture, a U.S. citizenship certificates with a private picture or a U.S. passport. Voters can nonetheless solid votes with out these IDs in the event that they signal a type swearing that they’ve a “affordable obstacle” from acquiring a correct picture ID or use a provisional poll. Discover extra particulars right here.

  • What can I do if I’ve bother voting?


    You’ll be able to contact your county elections official or name the Texas Secretary of State’s helpline at 1-800-252-VOTE (8683). A coalition of voting rights teams can be serving to voters navigate election issues via the 866-OUR-VOTE (687-8683) voter-protection helpline. The coalition additionally has hotlines accessible in different languages and for Texans with disabilities.

  • Learn extra

In interviews for this story, nevertheless, Berry acknowledged that she mistakenly requested for the fallacious election numbers.

The choice elicited backlash from college students on the college. Amongst them, MOVE Texas A&M, a nonpartisan pupil group that focuses on voter engagement, is combating to get the situation again on campus. The group has additionally raised over $10,000 to assist fund shuttle buses that take college students, school and workers to Metropolis Corridor for all of early voting.

Berry has since acknowledged that eradicating the on-campus early voting location “was a mistake.” The county is contributing $5,000 towards transportation to take pupil voters to Metropolis Corridor via an interlocal settlement with Texas A&M.

The county can be planning to reinstate the on-campus polling place for 2023.

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This isn’t a singular case, nevertheless. Throughout Texas, many universities lack on-campus polling websites. Coupled with state legal guidelines relating to voter ID and registration, advocate teams say these are boundaries that make it more durable for younger Texans to vote.

Disclosure: MOVE Texas and Texas A&M College have been monetary supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan information group that’s funded partly by donations from members, foundations and company sponsors. Monetary supporters play no position within the Tribune’s journalism. Discover a full checklist of them right here.



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