Be aware of the changes in voting in Texas for the November election

By Sindy Benavides

Most Americans know that the midterm elections are on Tuesday, Nov. 8, but some potential voters are still unfamiliar with the process.

While voting is not mandatory for US citizens by birth or naturalized, it is a constitutional right. The League of United Latin American Citizens believes that for those able to vote, it is one of our most sacred duties as Americans. Heading to the next election there are several changes that Texas voters should be aware of before casting their ballot.

Texas is one of the states that will be facing an array of changes in the upcoming election: Drive-through and 24-hour voting are no longer possible, those voting by mail will need to provide further proof of ID, and there will be new requirements for people assisting elderly voters or those with disabilities. The last day to register to vote is Oct. 11.

The Texas primaries proved just how challenging it can be to cope with these electoral changes. Following the March 1 primary, roughly 13% of mail ballots were discarded and uncounted across 187 counties in Texas — an abnormally high rate. This was primarily due to the new absentee requirements, which ask those voting by mail (largely seniors) to include an ID number on the ballot’s carrier envelope. Many voters were unaware of the new rules or simply did not fill out the fields.

Since the primaries, state leaders have engaged in public campaigns to educate voters about the new rules. The state has also modified the envelope to highlight the section requiring the ID number more clearly. During the primaries, the placement was under the flap of the envelope.

Regardless of our opinions on voting or our political orientation, the truth is that these changes are here now and that it’s up to us, the voters, to stay informed and understand the new requirements to ensure our vote is counted. AARP has a helpful state-by-state guide for 2022 in English and Spanish, that includes Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, so voters can view the election rules where they live in advance of Election Day.

As Lisa Simpson, AARP’s multicultural engagement, disparities and equity director, points out: “Given the recent changes in election laws, it’s more important now than ever that voters are informed on how to vote in their state. AARP is dedicated to providing all voters 50-plus with trusted information on where, when and how to vote during this election cycle. Together, our voices will be the deciding factor in the 2022 elections.”

People over age 50, including millions of Hispanics, are our nation’s most powerful voters and will be the deciders in the 2022 elections.

As a result, LULAC is a big advocate of “get out the vote” efforts, regardless of an individual’s preferred candidate or political party. We believe that suffrage, something many Americans fought and even died for, is a right and that by casting a ballot, you are using your voice. The voting process may look different this year in California and Florida, but also in Texas.

As mandated by the Constitution, a census takes place every 10 years and the data collected determines the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives. On April 26, 2021, the Census Bureau released the 2020 census apportionment results and due to big demographic changes, such as internal migration, some states lost congressional seats and some gained seats.

Texas is one of six states to gain seats, and the only one to gain more than one, thanks to its fast-growing population and the increase in residents of color, particularly Hispanics. This means that many Texas voters will now be casting a ballot in a different election district than where they have most of their lives. If you live in Texas, you can use your home address to find your district here.

However, the changes to how we vote don’t stop with the census. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, the New York University School of Law project that tracks election law changes, 19 states have passed 33 laws since the 2020 election that restrict voting access (as of this past January). Over the same time, 25 states adopted 62 measures that make it easier to vote.

Whether you prefer to vote on election day or before, in person or by mail, make your voting plan and secure transportation if needed at least a month in advance of Nov. 8. According to a 2021 survey by MRI-Simmons Spring, 51% of Hispanic people aged 50-plus say they always vote in the national elections, 37% say they always vote in the statewide elections, and 33% say they always vote in local elections. LULAC wants those numbers even higher!

And remember, midterm elections are not just congressional elections. This year, there are 36 gubernatorial races, as well as countless county and citywide elections and other ballot measures, depending on where you live.

Remember, tu voto es tu voz, and your duty as an American.

Sindy M. Benavides is the CEO of the League of United Latin American Citizens. She wrote this column for The Dallas Morning News.

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