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League of Women Voters Expands Last Chances to Register to Vote
With approximately 35,000 delayed DPS voter registration applications still being processed, concerns about timely mail postmarks, and Travis County no longer offering the late-night registration hours available in previous election cycles, League of Women Voters volunteers are stepping in to help supplement County resources and ensure eligible voters have every opportunity to register before the October 5 deadline.
TRAVIS COUNTY, TEXAS: With Texas's voter registration deadline four days away, the League of Women Voters of the Austin Area (LWVAA) is urging every Travis County voter, including people who have voted at the same address for years, to take two minutes today to confirm their registration is active and current.
What is unusual this year? The Travis County Voter Registrar reports more than 35,000 applications submitted through the Texas Department of Public Safety that must be processed before the deadline. The applications were delayed by a state vendor software error.
Registrations can also fall out of date because of undelivered mail as well as voter roll reviews and removals. And because the Postal Service is postmarking some mail days late, the county recommends delivering paper applications in person rather than mailing them near the deadline. Also, for years the County operated deadline day registration sites until the midnight deadline, but they are not planning to do that this year on Oct 5.
What the League is doing. For weeks, the League of Women Voters has been coordinating volunteer deputy registrars* to staff as many as three or four registration events a day across the county, from libraries and senior communities to concerts and campuses. On deadline day there will be more than 44 opportunities available, including League-managed deadline day registration sites until midnight on October 5th. They're helping voters who discover a problem, including people whose DPS address change never reached the county, complete a new paper application on the spot. (*A volunteer deputy registrar is a volunteer trained and deputized by a county to register voters.)
"If you moved, changed your address at DPS, or haven't voted in a while, don't assume. Everyone should check their registration before October 5th," said Carol Eckelkamp, president of the League of Women Voters of the Austin Area. "If something's wrong, a paper application fixes it, but only through Monday. Our volunteers will be out all weekend to help."
Three steps for voters
1. Confirm your voter registration status. If you are NOT registered in Travis County or your registration is in “suspense”, here's how to fix it before October 5th. Please note that Texas does not allow online voter registration. Check your status at the Texas Secretary of State's "Am I Registered?" site. If your status says "suspense," it is usually because mail from the county came back. Call the Travis County Voter Registrar (512-854-9473) to find out what's needed.
2. Fix it or register at any Austin Public Library or any of the remaining events staffed with volunteer deputy registrars (VDRs)
- Austin Public Libraries - see a librarian
- LWV list of Voter Registration Opportunities - list and map at: https://lwvaustin.org/Voter-Registration
- Travis County Tax Office - see latest list of remaining opportunities: https://www.facebook.com/TravisCountyTaxOffice
- As a last resort, you can hand-deliver your voter registration application. Texas does not offer online voter registration. You can complete the application online at the Texas Secretary of State’s website, print it, sign it, and deliver the completed application to a Travis County Tax Office during business hours
- For the October 5 deadline, the main Travis County Tax Office at 2433 Ridgepoint Drive, Austin, TX 78754 will accept voter registrations in person until midnight on Monday, October 5th. Completed applications may also be placed in the 24/7 drop boxes at any of Travis County’s six Tax Office locations. Travis County Tax Office
- If you registered through DPS and still don't appear on the rolls, state officials say you may cast a provisional ballot, which will be counted once the county confirms your DPS application was submitted by the deadline.
3. If you registered through DPS and still don't appear on the rolls, state officials say you may cast a provisional ballot, which will be counted once the county confirms your DPS application was submitted by the deadline.
Photo opportunities
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When
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Where
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What you'll see
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Daily through Oct. 5
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See "Voter Registration Opportunities" list on lwvaustin.org home page and map of them at lwvaustin.org/Voter-Registration
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Additional League registration tables
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Sat, Oct. 3
10 a.m.–6 p.m.
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History Surrounds, Wooldridge Square
900 Guadalupe St., Austin
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All-day, bring-a-picnic event with the Austin History Center and AuZu, including a virtual-reality look at Austin's suffrage history. League volunteers register voters and answer ballot-by-mail questions; bilingual volunteers
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Mon, Oct. 5 (deadline day)
11 a.m.–2 p.m.
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ACC Northridge Campus, Riverbat Bash
11928 Stonehollow Dr. [in front of Building 1000)
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Last-day registration with Austin Community College students (average student age: 26)
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Monday Oct. 5
4:30-midnight
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After Hours @ Travis County Clerk’s Office
5501 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78751
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The League is coordinating VDRs to provide volunteer registration opportunities for those who have come to expect that this will be available. Drop Box on site.
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Spokespeople available (English and Spanish): Carol Eckelkamp, President; Claudia Torres Yanez, Vice President, Voter Services. Interviews can be arranged in person or by phone Oct. 1–5.
Key dates
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Mon, Oct. 5: last day to register or update your registration
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Mon, Oct. 19: early voting begins
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Fri, Oct. 23: last day for the county to receive a ballot-by-mail application
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Fri, Oct. 30: early voting ends
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Tue, Nov. 3: Election Day
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The League of Women Voters of the Austin Area is proud to be nonpartisan, neither supporting nor opposing candidates or political parties at any level of government but always working on vital issues of concern to members and the public. We encourage informed and active participation in government, work to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influence public policy through education and advocacy.
Spanish-language media alert
No dé por hecho que está registrado para votar: la Liga de Mujeres Votantes pide a los votantes del condado de Travis verificar su registro antes de la fecha límite del lunes 5 de octubre
Más de 35,000 solicitudes enviadas a través del DPS se están procesando con retraso en el condado de Travis. Los registros también pueden quedar desactualizados por correo que no llegó o por revisiones y depuraciones del padrón electoral. La Liga de Mujeres Votantes del Área de Austin pide a todos los votantes verificar hoy su registro y, si encuentra que su registro no está activo y vigente, entregar en persona una solicitud de registro de votantes antes del lunes 5 de octubre en 2433 Ridgepoint Dr. o en cualquier oficina de impuestos del condado de Travis, en cualquier biblioteca pública de Austin o con voluntarios de la Liga.
Oportunidades para fotografías
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When
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Where
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What you'll see
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Sabado, 3 de octobre
10 a.m.–6 p.m.
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History Surrounds, Wooldridge Square
900 Guadalupe St., Austin
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Evento de día completo organizado por el Austin History Center y AuZu. Incluye una experiencia de realidad virtual sobre la historia del sufragio en Austin. Voluntarios de la Liga registran a votantes y responderán preguntas sobre el voto por correo; habrá voluntarios bilingües.
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Lunes, 5 de octubre (dia limite)
11 a.m.–2 p.m.
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ACC Northridge Campus, Riverbat Bash
11928 Stonehollow Dr. (en frente del edificio 1000)
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Inscripción de último día con estudiantes del Austin Community College (edad promedio de los estudiantes: 26 años)
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Todos los días hasta el 5 de octubre
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Consulte "Oportunidades para registrarse como votante" en lwvaustin.org
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Voluntarios de la Liga disponibles para registrar votantes
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Portavoces disponibles (inglés y español): Carol Eckelkamp, presidenta; Claudia Torres Yanez, vicepresidenta de Servicios al Votante. Se pueden concertar entrevistas presenciales o telefónicas del 1 al 5 de octubre.
Fechas clave
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Lunes, 5 de octubre: último día para registrarse o actualizar el registro
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Lunes, 19 de octubre: comienza la votación anticipada
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Viernes, 23 de octubre: último día para que el condado reciba la solicitud de boleta por correo
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Viernes, 30 de octubre: termina la votación anticipada
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Martes, 3 de noviembre: Día de las Elecciones
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La Liga de Mujeres Votantes del Área de Austin se enorgullece de ser apartidista; no apoya ni se opone a candidatos o partidos políticos en ningún nivel de gobierno, sino que trabaja siempre en temas de vital importancia para sus miembros y el público. Fomentamos una participación informada y activa en el gobierno, trabajamos para aumentar la comprensión de los principales temas de política pública e influimos en dichas políticas mediante la educación y la defensa de causas.
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