If you had trouble getting an ID and dont have one, here are some alternatives: If you use one of these, youll have to sign a form that says you had a reasonable impediment to getting an ID. Legitimate poll watcher or voting intimidation wheres the line? Also on the ballot: a $2.44 billion bond package for Austin schools, the largest in district history. District 9: Linda Guerrero. Five seats on the Austin ISD school board are up for election. To see wait times at these locations, go here. The Austin Chronicle only endorses in contested races. The story is bizarre read more and will surely be amusing on TV, but Judge Catherine Mauzy is living it right now, y'all, and needs your support. The eight propositions (A-H) will be voted on by the residents of Austin during the May 1st 2021 special election that the Austin city council approved during the Feb. 9th council meeting. Support the Chronicle, One click gets you all the newsletters listed below, Breaking news, arts coverage, and daily events. All three choices are good for voters in the contest for the nomination to, in all likelihood, flip the last GOP-held seat on the 3rd Court. District 4: Kathryn Whitley Chu Eric Goodman's Austin FC column, other soccer news, All questions answered (satisfaction not guaranteed). Confronting a long list of races at the polls can be daunting. As a self-described urbanist, he represents a real change in direction after eight years of Kathie Tovo, and Linda Guerrero entered this race to provide a more status-quo alternative. The last day a candidate may file is Monday, August 19, 2024 at 5 p.m. Austin Chronicle Voting Guide Recommendations Austin Chronicle Voting Guide Recommendations For sale Marketplace classified ad of the Austin Chronicle Classifieds Austin TX. . The bond would also help the college expand training capacity for jobs in health care and advanced manufacturing and would fund new sites in southeastern and southwestern Travis County. We think Velsquez has more of the kind of experience that will serve a council member in good stead, and more credibility with the local powers on the ground in the heart of Tejano East Austin who have genuine power in a district where so many people dont vote unless theyre specifically asked to. Hays Commissioner Pct. Abbott Says Hell Yes to Probably Violating More Peoples Civil Rights, This Week in Ken Paxtons Brain: Sodomy, Austin at Large: Housing and the Mayors Race. In her first two terms, Zwiener has bloomed as a leader of the Dem caucus, co-founded the LGBTQ Caucus, staked a big claim in environmental legislation, and generally impressed the heck out of us. HD47: Vikki Goodwin Polling places will also be open on election day, June 7, for. District 3: Jos Velsquez. Find the Chronicles endorsements (with detailed explanations) here. Day one of early voting in Travis County was quite impressive. Here who's on the ballot in November's midterm election: Austin mayoral debate:5 things we learned from the candidates, District 1 race:Austin City Council incumbent Harper-Madison aims for second term, District 3 raceRunoff likely in District 3 election as six candidates battle for open seat, District 5 raceAustin City Council seat up for grabs with Ann Kitchen leaving office, District 8 raceAustin City Council incumbent Paige Ellis facing three challengers, District 9 race:Big field of Austin City Council candidates focused on city's housing policies. Of the remaining candidates, Jennifer Virden has some credible housing ideas, but is Republican enough that she stands too close to the treason and racist violence and is thus disqualified. 2: Brigid Lester Five seats on the Austin school district's Board of Trustees are up for election: How to sell a $2.44B school bond?Make sure voters know what they're getting. In order to be a candidate a person must: Be a U.S. Citizen; The personal pre-voting for the elections on November 2nd will take place from Monday, October 18th to Friday, October . OK, y'all are starting to tick us off, defense bar, for continuing to go after Malhotra for being an advocate for survivors of intimate partner violence, the focus of this misdemeanor specialty court. Guerrero has not yet found her rhythm as a politician, but she's definitely done the homework. For this new civil court, we will go through the usual exercise of electing a Democrat to replace the appointed Republican Cleve Doty and we wish Eiserloh, who is now a familiar face and name all over town from her 2020 campaign for county attorney (where we endorsed her and then co-endorsed in the run-off), the best of success on this bench. A total of 5,009 people went to the polls Monday, a very solid turnout. The Nov. 8 election is a big one. Yet Alter also has years of experience as Kirk Watsons aide in the Lege, so he knows how to negotiate and play hardball, which we generally like to hear. Email her at [email protected]. Eric Goodman's Austin FC column, other soccer news, All questions answered (satisfaction not guaranteed). Download the application for an emergency ballot here. In support of informed voting, the Houston Chronicle Editorial Board interviewed candidates in more than 60 races to make the following recommendations in contested Harris County races. That will put her in the best place to find solutions to Austin's decadelong housing crisis. At-Large Place 9: Arati Singh Ann Kitchen has been a reliably good Council member; her great reluctance to disempower neighborhood activists on land use issues has been offset by tremendous leadership on transportation, public safety, and public health. TX-35: Greg Casar District 5 (dual): Ryan Alter, Ken Craig. No, we do not. The incumbent has provoked some folks with her ideas and exasperated some others with her approach to governing, but she has also risen to the occasion and shouldered the several burdens that City Hall and Austin at large felt a need to place upon the one Black Council member, and the most prominent Black woman in local politics, over a term made chaotic by pandemics and police racism and violence. Runoff elections can take place between the top candidates if no one reaches a 50% majority of the vote. Current board vice president. Submit yours now at austinchronicle.com/opinion. Here's what they're all about. We offer detailed reasons behind our Editorial Board endorsements in the general election in this annotated version; this version is for. Make sure your county's elections office receives your ballot on or before Election Day. District 6: Andrew Gonzalez The Austin Chronicle: Chronicle Endorsements for the May 7 State and Local Election; The Austin-American Statesman: Austin voters should relax pot laws, outlaw no-knock raids; Guides (as they become available) League of Women Voters Austin Area Voters Guide; Why should I vote? Still and despite our admiration for all that state Rep. Eddie Rodriguez has done for Austin and Texas we agreed easily that Casar is the best choice to be Austin and San Antonio's new voice in Congress. Early voting in Texas for the Nov. 2 election begins Monday, Oct. 18 and runs through through Friday, Oct. 29. This is an interesting one. Six people are vying to be the next mayor of Austin. The man behind "Fix the Damn Grid" has been running for this job now for eight years, coming quite close to unseating carnival barker Dan Patrick in 2018 and never breaking stride since. Got something to say? There is no currently active politician whose career has been more interwoven with the Chronicle's advocacy journalism than Brigid Shea, the hero of the Save Our Springs movement and a highly productive disruptor at City Hall in the 1990s. As we told readers then, it was not to shame him but to goad him to do better as the leader and defender of a big and diverse community, not a superhero who all by himself would build a political house big enough to hold the new Austin. Travis County Clerk: Dyana Limon-Mercado These are the candidates. Longtimer Doggett and Three Political Outsiders Vie to Represent the Newly Formed 37th Congressional District, Inside the Central Texas Congressional Map, The Gloves Come Off in Travis County Precinct 4 Race, Austin at Large: Seek, Matt, and Ye Shall Find, Local Candidates Launch Their 2022 Campaigns, Texas Primaries Loom as Redistricting Lawsuits Drop, County Commissioners Tout Successes, Face Challengers, Election Ticker: Race for Austin's Next Mayor Heats Up, Seven Candidates Vie for the Future of District 4. A $71 million bond could help with overcrowding. Voters will chart the future of their local community, and of Texas as a whole, on a ballot packed with important races and big-ticket propositions. Filing in the Republican or Democratic 2020 primary. The May 7 local election and the May 24 primary run-off, Tiny landslides in Travis County and beyond, Nail-Biters, needles moved, and a successor for Dana DeBeauvoir, Texas primary first out the starting gate, Wild punches, campaign cash, and early voting insights, Elizabeth Warren stumps for Casar, a growing progressive coalition in D.C., and affordable housing, Priorities include economic incentives for small farms, rural health care, and internet access, Blue team candidates want a greener land office, Limon-Mercado, Lockhart vying to be countys next elections official, Progressive star stumps for Casar, Cisneros campaigns, Here are the local, state, and national Dems we picked to represent us, In this week's issue: March primary coverage, Endorsements, and what to do for Valentine's Day, A lively crowd seeks the open House District 51 seat, Talarico, Alcorta Lay Out Progressive Agendas for HD 50, Bluer district creates opportunity to push board leftward, Congressional candidate requests Austin DSA withdraws endorsement over Casar's views on Israel, This compact new district encompasses almost all of Austin west of I-35. Governor raceNRA, anti-Abbott groups spend big in the Texas governor race, Attorney general race:Abortion emerges as key issue in Texas attorney general race for Ken Paxton, Rochelle Garza. Lockhart ISD schools are bursting at the seams. SD25: Robert Walsh, House District 20: Raul Camacho Three at-large seats on the Austin Community College Board of Trustees are up for election: Proposition A The $770 million bond would provide funding for new construction, campus upgrades and student support services, such as child care and student health services. Shes also your go-to pick if youre looking for a young millennial activist to fill the Greg Casar slot, rather than providing Chito Vela with a natural ally. Vela's item passed 10-1, with Mayor Kirk Watson quietly voting no; as a state senator, he was the I-35 project's key champion. The presiding election judge will decide if the priority is granted. Looking for a streamlined version? Hays Commissioner Pct. We wonder how much or how little Talarico will need to adapt to his new district next session and beyond. A ballot measure passed in May 2021 moved Austin's mayoral race to align with presidential elections in an effort to increase voter turnout. 3rd Court of Appeals, P4: Rosa Lopez Theofanis, Senate District 5: No Endorsement The debate from the Rio Grande Valley took place as ORourke continues to trail in the polls. Supreme Court, Place 3: Erin Nowell Do you know who your Austin City Council member is? BURBANK, Calif. (AP) Tom Sizemore, the "Saving Private Ryan" actor whose bright 1990s star burned out under the weight of his own . Hays can hopefully fix the mess Miller and the Lege have made of cannabis regulation while also picking up where the last Democrat to hold the office, Jim Hightower, left off to make the still-vital Texas ag industries more sustainable and equitable. City of Austin Prop A: FOR. Can't keep up with happenings around town? We also took notice when Guerrero told us shes not Tovos clone and about her pretty good ideas for soft density that she thinks are common sense, but which some D9 homeowners clearly dont like. The filing location is the Office of the City Clerk, 301 W. Second St., Suite 2030, Austin, Texas 78701; Fax number (512) 974-2374. Janet Dudding is the actual accountant among the three candidates in the Dem primary. Here's what you need to know. Of the four urbanists in the first round, Qadri seemed to us to be the least knowledgeable and engaged with actual land use politics, let alone the broader spectrum of City Hall business. When is the election? His campaign coalition of labor unions, Democratic clubs, elected officials, and prominent community leaders will hopefully form a foundation for organizing to address not only housing and affordability, but transportation and public safety challenges in D3. Let us be real and acknowledge that neither Watson nor Israel has as tight and powerful a grasp of the tools arrayed at City Hall as we hoped we'd see in this race. This was an easy choice for us, as Singh's only actively campaigning opponent, Heather Toolin, strikes us as a stalking horse for the know-nothing right-wing bullshit that's being dumped upon school boards across Texas. January 2022 Election Calendar / Enero 2022 Calendario Electoral Make sure to bring a photo ID. The mayor elected in this cycle will serve a two-year term, as opposed to four years. Support the free press, so we can support Austin. Key Dates Oct. 5 Last day to register to vote Oct. 13 First day of early voting Oct. 23 Last day to apply for ballot by mail (received, not postmarked) Oct. 30 Last day of early voting Nov. 3. It's a job that requires an enormous amount of political savvy at the moment, and Limon-Mercado, former chair of the county Democratic Party and the head of Planned Parenthood's Texas political arm, has plenty of that as well as demonstrated competence as an administrator. Alter, a longtime Lege staffer (including for Kirk Watson), has the most fully developed housing plan (called Housing Now) of any candidate in any Council race; he'll be able to walk into City Hall with a mandate to immediately seek support for big changes. Just input your address below and youll see a list of candidates and propositions that will appear on your ballot, along with information about each of them. A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austins independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the communitys political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Railroad Commissioner: Luke Warford All information on this webpage is specific to the January 2022 City of Austin Special Election and the Campaign Finance Filing Requirements. Leander Voted to Keep Cap Metro, but Will Manor and Lago Vista? The Chronicle Editorial Board makes these recommendations. Hear directly from the candidates as they make their case for why they should be the next councilmembers. Council District 3: Jos Velsquez Austin American-Statesman 0:00 1:53 Voters will chart the future of their local community, and of Texas as a whole, on a ballot packed with important races and big-ticket propositions. Starting near the top is the marquee race of this election cycle: Republican Gov. District 8: Paige Ellis HD136: John Bucy, 455th District Judge: Laurie Eiserloh Chu has quite simply reinvented what JP 5 the precinct that covers the central city and, by extension, the Capitol does and can do as a front-line defender of justice in Travis County. Austin has a great record when it comes to voter registration; more . Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. We offer detailed reasons behind our Editorial Board endorsements in the general election in this annotated version; this version is for voters looking to take a printed, streamlined copy to the ballot box. Voters 70 or older can bring a photo ID that has been expired for any length of time. We normally just say, "Vote for the Democrats," when, as has been the case for the last 25 years, there has not been a Republican worth voting for, or a Dem who needed voting against. To find voting locations and sample ballots, visitvotetravis.com(Travis County),wilco.org/elections(Williamson County),hayscountytx.com/departments/elections(Hays County) orbastropvotes.org(Bastrop County). Jay Kleberg does, and he has that love, and has shown it to Texans as a conservationist and environmentalist for a long time (offsetting the right-wing tilt of his prominent family, owners of the King Ranch), and has the sustainability to put up a credible challenge in November. Ben Leffler's campaign outshines the packed field of D9 candidates, including Guerrero, who is the anointed successor to Kathie Tovo, stepping down after a decade on Council. We talk to our reps about their priorities going into the new session, One click gets you all the newsletters listed below, Breaking news, arts coverage, and daily events. Usually, Travis County voters are pretty good about taking seriously their responsibility to elect good judges at all levels. Answers to Your Questions About Voting by Mail in Travis County, Your Local Lawmakers Enter the 88th Lege Arena. Make sure voters know what they're getting. SD14: Sarah Eckhardt A sample ballot showing all of this year's contests in Harris County can be found. Opinion: 19 Children Are Dead. On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 8, polling locations will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Last year, two-thirds of voters supported Proposition D, which moves the citys mayoral elections to the same year as presidential elections. If approved, the bond would add two new campuses to South Austin and expand workforce development programs. Heres what you need to know to vote in Travis County. Craig, who has worked in Kitchen's office for five years, would move much more deliberately but would champion and, most likely, bring to fruition the small-area planning that Kitchen's side of the Code Wars has sought for decades opening the door for a mapless code scenario that can fix problems with Austin's regulatory regime in general without provoking protests from angry property owners. 2023 ELECTION Mayoral candidates Paul Vallas, former Chicago Public Schools CEO, and Brandon Johnson, Cook County commissioner, will be facing each other in a runoff election scheduled for April 4. We can help. Deadline to turn in your completed ballot: December 13, postmarked; December 14, received Here's what's in it. Greg Casar, DSA, and Palestine: Will It Matter? Travis County Judge: Andy Brown Land Commissioner: Jay Kleberg Our progressive community has never really had this much power to lift the SBOE's heavily conservative (racist, homophobic) hand from the necks of Texas children, and we think the incumbent is best positioned to use it. TX-21: Claudia Zapata December 2022 City of Austin Runoff Election: Voter Resource In November, Austin voters turned out to cast ballots in the mayoral and City Council elections. We trust their judgment regarding Eldridge, who deserves to serve despite attempts in two cycles now to use one of the minor contretemps that gets blown into scandal in this town to take her out. As regular Chronicle readers can surmise, there has been a wide spectrum of views on the Editorial Board regarding Casar's performance and agenda on the Austin City Council. In November, a blue-wave election in Hays County swept out the prosecutors who had tried to convict Gray. Council District 5: Ryan Alter The 2022 Texas primary election is Tuesday, March 1. Someday, one of those movies will be made about Judge Madeleine Connor, the exception to Travis County's good judgment that proves the rule. But Silva probably has more credibility with more of the southside portion of D3, which is largely East Riverside and Oltorf west to St. Eds lots of young people, lots of diversity, lots of renters. will be away from your county on Election Day and during early voting; are confined in jail, but eligible to vote; or. Got something to say? The team also jettisoned the genre categories (except for best Hip Hop) in favor of 2020-centric awards like Best Livestreaming Artist and Best 2020-Themed Song. Talarico, elected at the same time as Zwiener, has impressed the heck out of everybody as the House's youngest (32) member, including Republicans who the Capitol crew thought would treat him better in redistricting. Combined with the 2,471 mail-in ballots received, that makes . That includes: People may wear things representing former candidates, presidents or any political figure that is not a part of the election. Alter and Craig, who have much to offer in those areas as well, offer different ways of moving forward from where she leaves off. Eric Goodman's Austin FC column, other soccer news, All questions answered (satisfaction not guaranteed). You can mail in your ballot or hand deliver the sealed envelope to the county elections office. But thats not because we didnt reconsider them. The governor is up for election, Austinites are choosing a new mayor, and there are some notable bonds on the ballot, including one to fund affordable housing projects in Austin. Got something to say? Wilco Commissioner Pct. Wilco JP Pct. Travis County: countyclerk.traviscountytx.gov/departments/elections or 512/238-VOTE (8683), Williamson County: wilco.org/departments/election or 512/943-1630, Hays County: hayscountytx.com/departments/elections/current-year-election or 512/393-7779. But here in this century, there is a lot more to be done to create a just and sustainable Travis County, even on climate. Remember when this was a job where one needed to love Texas' lands, and not just political power and prospective Alamo profits and guns? Even though they're judges, the JPs in Travis County are more like specialized hyperlocal problem-solvers, being the courts of first instance for both truancy cases and evictions. Six candidates are running to represent the district in Southeast Austin. Information will continually be updated as we approach the January 2022 Election. Laurie hosts the afternoon music show on KUTX from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and is the producer and voice of the Austin Music Minute, which shines the spotlight on live music shows around town six days a week. We can help. Following months of discussion from Republican Gov. The Chronicle welcomes opinion pieces on any topic from the community. Voters can go to any polling place in the county. Election Day is Nov. 8. Texans will decide eight proposed amendments to the state Constitution on Nov. 2. (Are you a Williamson County resident? How is our attorney general being a dick this time? Zwiener who upset Bell-Metereau four years ago to claim the Dem nomination and then win this Hays County seat has also benefited from the new map with a district now firmly anchored in the Buda/Kyle suburbs (i.e., far-far South Austin) and in the college community in San Marcos. Can't keep up with happenings around town? HD50: James Talarico We strongly recommend that RRISD voters vote for the Access Education slate: Place 1: Estevan Jesus Chuy Zrate. Watch: Abbott and O'Rourke debate in only matchup ahead of November election, Hundreds of volunteers will fan out on San Marcos waterways Saturday to clean up trash, UTEP hosting Borderland Chopin Festival honoring a poet of the piano, Hoping to retain staff, Austin gives police officers a 4% raise, Detrs del proceso 'desordenado' para elegir al prximo responsable del metro ligero de Austin, Watch: Where candidates running for Austin City Council District 1 stand on three big issues, Submit your questions and join us for forums with the candidates running for Austin City Council, Immigration, guns and abortion dominate Abbott, ORourke debate in the Rio Grande Valley. Do we really understand why anyone is running against Lloyd in this late-career race to finally represent his lifelong neighbors in Austin? Eric Goodman's Austin FC column, other soccer news, All questions answered (satisfaction not guaranteed). People who were here then still remember what it felt like to be a winner. That seat may be up for election in November. Copyright 1981-2023 Austin Chronicle Corp. All rights reserved. Heres how it would impact schools if voters approve it. The Austin Chronicle's Austin Music Awards honor the local music community by recognizing Austin artists and industry leaders. If you need help casting your ballot you are permitted to bring someone with you, including a translator. Email address is [email protected]. In Austin, voters will also elect a new mayor, choose candidates for five City Council and four Austin school board seats and consider three bond proposals. (Austin Westphal/News Staff) Singh championed a consent-centered revision of AISD's sex education curriculum that also sought to help LGBTQIA+ students, and led the board in developing accountability metrics for AISD police to reduce violence against Black and Hispanic students. Can't keep up with happenings around town? In a perfect world they'd also share space on the dais, but we must choose. Voters with mobility limitations may ask an election officer for voting priority to avoid standing in line. Six candidates are vying for this seat representing South Austin on the City Council. So that's good, and she's right that DWI is an area that hasn't yet been impacted that much by justice reform. Proposition B $275 million for a high school that would be expected to open in 2026. You can find early voting locations in your area on the Vote Texas website two days before the first day of early. By. Support the free press, so we can support Austin. 2023 www.statesman.com. We can help. You didn't need us to tell you that. Instead, he's moving down the street (and across the Travis County line) to represent the somewhat less suburban (and less Anglo) North Austin neighborhoods in the seat held by retiring Rep. Celia Israel, now running for mayor. Your phone should be on silent or turned off and put away. Travis County residents will see a mix of statewide and local races on their ballot. Since she and Ryan Alter also largely agree on goals, we asked them about change and influence how do you intend to get more housing and child care and climate action or whichever priorities you want to champion? Locally, Austin voters will chose a new mayor and select candidates for five additional City Council seats. If youre in line by 7 p.m. on Election Day, you cannot be denied a ballot. Court of Criminal Appeals, P5: No Endorsement Sharon Navarro, a professor of political science at the University of Texas at San Antonio, said the messages Republicans are using to target Latino voters about immigration and the economy seem to be working.