•  Hello. I am NAME, representing the LEAGUE NAME. Thank you for inviting me to talk about the League’s favorite topic—voting!

•  Our vision is empowered citizens shaping better communities.

•  As a nonpartisan organization, the League never endorses or opposes candidates or political parties. But we do advocate for positions on issues that our members have studied and agreed upon.

Google images. Retrieved from https://images.google.com

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Registered voters in Texas can cast a ballot by mail if they are:•  65 years of age or older;•  disabled;•  confined in jail, but not convicted of a felony; or•  will be out of the county on Election Day and during early voting.

Sources:a)  TexasSecretaryofState.Applica)onforaballotbymail.Retrievedfrom

h6p://www.sos.state.tx.us/elec=ons/voter/reqabbm.shtmlb)  Googleimages.Retrievedfromh6ps://images.google.com

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•  Membersofthemilitaryandtheirfamilymembersandthoseresidingoverseascanvoteabsenteeiftheyare:

•  AU.S.ci=zen,18yearsold,andabsentfromvo=ngresidence•  Canchoosethe

•  Regulartwo-stepprocesstoregistertovoteandapplyforballotbymailorthe•  One-stepprocessusingtheFederalPostcardApplica=on•  Ineithercasetheapplica=onsaremailedtothecountyelec=onsoffice.

•  TheFederalVo=ngAssistanceProgram(FVAP)websiteprovides•  Notonlythe

•  Postcardapplica=onsand•  Deadlinesforapplica=onsandreturnedballots

•  Butalsolinksto•  Absenteevo=ngguidelines•  Stateelec=onwebsite•  Localelec=onsofficecontactinforma=on•  Recommendedmailingdatesbycountrysoballotarriveson=me

•  Thislinkisfoundontheinforma=onpagesformembersofthedifferentbranchesoftheservice.

Sourcesa)  TexasSecretaryofState.(n.d.).Military&overseasvoters.Retrievedfrom

h6p://www.votetexas.gov/military-overseas-voters/b)  U.S.DepartmentofDefense.(n.d.).Federalvo)ngassistanceprogram.Retrievedfrom

h6ps://www.fvap.gov

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•  Texasallowsstudentstokeeptheirresidencyevenwhentheymoveout-of-countyorout-of-statetoa9endschool.

•  Theyonlylosetheirresidencyiftheyestablishresidencyinanotherstateforanyreason,suchastovotethere.

•  Thustheycanapplyforanabsenteeballotintheircountyofresidence.

Sourcesa)  Residence,1TEX.ELEC.CODE§1.015(d).Retrievedfrom

h9p://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/EL/htm/EL.1.htmb)  CampusVoteProject.(n.d.).Studentguides.Retrievedfrom

h9p://campusvoteproject.org/studentguides/

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•  Studentsfromanotherstatewhoarea0endingcollegeinTexascanvoteeitherattheirlegalresidenceintheirhomestateorinTexasusingtheirschooladdress.

•  Tovoteintheirhomestate:•  Theywouldcheckthestudentvo<ngguideinthatstate.•  Applytovotebyabsenteeballotintheircountyofresidence.

•  TovotewheretheylivewhilegoingtoschoolinTexas,studentsmustdeclareTexasresidencyandregistertovote.

•  Studentscanestablishresidencyforvo<nginTexasif•  theyintendtoremainattheirTexasschooladdressforthe<mebeing,&•  theylivethereexceptwhilecollegeisnotinsession.

•  Toestablishresidencyrequires:•  Texasmailingaddress•  U<lityorphonebillusingthemailingaddress•  Vehicleregistra<onwithin30days(ifownavehicle)•  TexasDriver’sLicensewithin90days(ifownavehicle)

•  Voterregistra<onrequires:•  Mailingaddresswithinthecounty.

Sourcesa)  Residence,1TEX.ELEC.CODE§1.015(d).Retrievedfrom

h0p://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/EL/htm/EL.1.htmb)  CampusVoteProject.(n.d.).Studentguides.Retrievedfrom

h0p://campusvoteproject.org/studentguides/ 5

•  First-'mevoterswhodidnotlisttheirTexasdriverlicensenumberorlastfourdigitsoftheirSocialSecuritynumberontheirVoterRegistra'onApplica'onwillberequiredto:•  encloseaphotocopyofavalidphotoID(fromthelist)ifvo'ngbymailwhenreturningyourballetor

•  showavalidphotoIDtovoteinperson.•  OnlyoneofthesevenformsofphotoIDlistedcanbeusedand

•  theIDcannothaveexpiredmorethan4yearsbeforevo'ng.Sourcesa)  Documenta'onofProofofIden'fica'on,63TEX.ELEC.CODE§63.0101.from

hUp://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/EL/htm/EL.63.htmb)  AnActRela'ngtoRequiringaVotertoPresentProofofIden'fica'on;ProvidingaCriminal

PenaltyandIncreasingaCriminalPenalty.SB5,85thTexasLegislature2017).RetrievedfromhUp://www.capitol.state.tx.us

c)  TexasSecretaryofState.(2016,January).No%cetovoterwhomustprovideiden%fica%on(forvotersvo%ngbymail).RetrievedfromhUp://www.sos.state.tx.us/elec'ons/forms/pol-sub/5-22af.pdf

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•  VoterswhodonothaveanacceptableIDcansignasimpleformandencloseacopyofoneofthefollowingotherdocuments.

•  Theformiscalled“Voter’sStatementofReasonableImpedimentorDifficulty”andwillbesentalongwiththeballot.

Sourcesa)  DocumentaConofProofofIdenCficaCon,63TEX.ELEC.CODE§63.0101.from

hQp://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/EL/htm/EL.63.htmb)  AnActRelaCngtoRequiringaVotertoPresentProofofIdenCficaCon;ProvidingaCriminal

PenaltyandIncreasingaCriminalPenalty.SB5,85thTexasLegislature(2017).RetrievedfromhQp://www.capitol.state.tx.us

c)  TexasSecretaryofState.(2016,January).No%cetovoterwhomustprovideiden%fica%on(forvotersvo%ngbymail).RetrievedfromhQp://www.sos.state.tx.us/elecCons/forms/pol-sub/5-22af.pdf

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•  SendyourApplica0onforBallotbyMailasearlyas60daysbeforeanelec0on.Thiswillgiveyouplentyof0metoreceiveyourballot,markit,andmailitbacktothecountyearlyvo0ngclerk.

•  Theapplica0onmustbereceived•  byyourcountyearlyvo0ngclerk•  notlaterthanthe11thdaybeforeElec0onDay.

•  Thiselec0onthedateis______,_______,___.•  Toobtainanapplica0on,youcaneither:

•  Callyourlocalcountyelec0onsofficeortheTexasSecretaryofStateOfficeor

•  Downloadandprintanapplica0onororderoneatthiswebsite•  Notetospeaker:Informa0onnoteasilyretrievablebysearchingVOTETEXAS.GOVhomepage

Resourcesa)  Texas Secretary of State. Application for a ballot by mail. Retrieved from

http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/reqabbm.shtmlb)  Texas Secretary of State. Listing of county websites. Retrieved from

http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/county.shtmlc)  Google images. Retrieved from https://images.google.com

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Incomple=ngtheapplica=on:•  Yournameandresidenceaddressmustmatchwhatisonyourvoterregistra=oncard.Ifyouhavemoved•  Withinthecounty:Updateaddressonline•  Toadifferentcounty:FilloutanewVoterRegistra=onApplica=on

•  “Mailballotto:”•  Thisistheaddresswhereyouwantyourballotsent.•  Andthataddressdependsonthereasonyouarevo=ngbymail.

Sourcesa)  TexasSecretaryofState.(n.d.).Applica)onforballotbymail[form].Retrievedfrom

http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/reqabbm.shtmlb)  TexasSecretaryofState.(n.d.).Voternameandaddresschanges.Retrievedfrom

h6ps://txapps.texas.gov/tolapp/sos/SOSACManagerc)  Googleimages.Retrievedfromh6ps://images.google.com

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•  Ifthereasonyouarereques=ngtovotebymailisthatyouareage65orolder,youhaveseveralop=onswheretheballotcanbemailed,dependingonyourcircumstances.

•  Itcanbemailedtowhereyouarelivingorwillberesidingforthe=mebeingorevenarela=ve.

Sourcesa)  TexasSecretaryofState.(n.d.).Applica)onforballotbymail[Form].Retrieved

fromhttp://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/reqabbm.shtmlb)  Googleimages.Retrievedfromh6ps://images.google.com

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Ifyouarevo=ngbymailbecauseyouaredisabledorare65orolder:•  Youcanrequesttovotebymailinallelec=onsinthecalendaryear.•  Whileyoucansubmitthisannualapplica=onany=meduringthecalendaryear,itmustbereceivedinthecountyelec=onsofficeatleast11daysbeforethefirstelec=oninwhichyouseektorequestaballotbymail.(Friday,October28forNovember2016elec=on)•  Theelec=onsclerkshouldforwardyourannualapplica=ontootheren==eswhereyouareaqualifiedvoter.Thismeansthattheschooldistrictorcityballotswillalsobemailedtoyou.

•  Thosevo=ngabsentee(i.e.,out-of-county)andthoseinjailcanonlyapplytovotebymailforthenextelec=on.

SourceTexasSecretaryofState.(n.d.).Applica)onforballotbymail[form].Retrievedfrom

http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/reqabbm.shtml

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•  Ifyouarevo=ngabsenteebecauseyouwillnotbeanywhereinthecountyonElec=onDayandduringearlyvo=ng:•  YourballotMUSTbemailedtoanaddressoutsidethecountywhereyoucangetitbeginningonaspecifieddate.

•  Youmustbeoutofcountyonallpossiblevo=ngdatestovoteabsentee.

•  Ifaninmateiseligibletovote,theballotcanbesentarela=veortothejail.

Sourcesa)  TexasSecretaryofState.(n.d.).Applica)onforballotbymail[form].Retrievedfrom

http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/reqabbm.shtmlb)  Googleimages.Retrievedfromh6ps://images.google.com

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•  SignanddateyourApplica=onforBallotbyMail.•  YoursignatureMUSTmatchtheoneonyourvoterregistra=oncard.

•  Ifyouareunabletosignityourself:•  Apersoncanwitnessyourmarkora6estthatyoucannotmakeamark.

•  Thewitnessorassistantmustnotonlysigntheapplica=onbutprovideanaddressandtherela=onshiptothevoter.•  Unlessthewitnessisacloserela=ve,itisamisdemeanortotowitnessmorethanoneApplica=onforBallotbyMail.

•  Itisalsoamisdemeanortoomittherequestedinforma=on.

Sourcesa)  TexasSecretaryofState.(n.d.).Applica)onforballotbymail[form].Retrievedfrom

http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/reqabbm.shtmlb)  Googleimages.Retrievedfromh6ps://images.google.com

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•  Next,addtheaddressofyourcountyelec=onsofficetothedesignatedspotontheapplica=on.

•  Thenfoldtheapplica=on,tapeitshut,andputafirstclassstamponitbeforemailingit.

•  Itcanalsobescannedandemailedorfaxedtoyourelec=onsoffice.

Sourcea)  TexasSecretaryofState.(n.d.).Applica)onforballotbymail[form].Retrieved

fromhttp://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/reqabbm.shtmlb)  Googleimages.Retrievedfromh6ps://images.google.com

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•  Whenyougetyourballotbymail,itwillcontain:•  Instruc=onsfromtheTexasSecretaryofState,•  anofficialballot,•  aballotenvelope,and•  anotherenvelopeaddressedtothecountyelec=onsoffice(commonlycalledthecarrierenvelope).

•  Thetwoenvelopesareusuallydifferentcolorsandvaryfromcountytocountyandyeartoyear.

Sourcesa)  Addi=onalBallo=ngMaterials,7TEX.ELEC.CODE§86.002.Retrievedfrom

h6p://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/EL/htm/EL.86.htmb)  Elec=onday.(2008,October17).MeandyouandEllie[Blog].Retrievedfrom

h6p://meandyouandellie.blogspot.com/2008/10/elec=on-day.html

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•  Foreachoffice,voteforthecandidateofyourchoice.•  Marktheballotaccordingtotheinstruc=onsonthe

ballotenvelope.•  Somecoun=esspecifythatthebubblebefilledinby

usingablackorblueinkpen.•  Thereisalsoaplaceatthetopoftheballottovotea

straight=cketforoneparty.•  Aperyouaredonevo=ng,foldtheballotandplaceitinthe

ballotenvelope.Sourcesa)  MarkingandSealingtheBallot,7TEX.ELEC.CODE§86.005.Retrievedfrom

h6p://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/EL/htm/EL.86.htmb)  LubbockCountyElec=onsDepartment.(2012).Howtomarkaballotbymail.

Retrievedfromh6p://www.votelubbock.org/voter-educa=on/how-to-mark-a-ballot/

c)  Elec=onday.(2008,October17).MeandyouandEllie[Blog].Retrievedfromh6p://meandyouandellie.blogspot.com/2008/10/elec=on-day.html

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Sealtheballotenvelopeandplaceitinsidethepre-addressedcarrierenvelope.Sourcesa)  MarkingandSealingtheBallot,7TEX.ELEC.CODE§86.005.Retrievedfrom

h6p://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/EL/htm/EL.86.htmb)  Elec=onday.(2008,October17).MeandyouandEllie[Blog].Retrievedfrom

h6p://meandyouandellie.blogspot.com/2008/10/elec=on-day.html

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•  Sealtheoutsideenvelopebeforesigningyourname.•  SignyournamenexttotheXonthebackotheenvelope.•  BesurethissignatureisexactlythesameasthesignatureonyourApplica=onforVotebyMail.

Sourcesa)  MarkingandSealingtheBallot,7TEX.ELEC.CODE§86.005.Retrievedfrom

h6p://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/EL/htm/EL.86.htmb)  Elec=onday.(2008,October17).MeandyouandEllie[Blog].Retrievedfrom

h6p://meandyouandellie.blogspot.com/2008/10/elec=on-day.html

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•  Addtherequiredpostageandmail!•  Ifyouareafraidtomailtheenvelopewithyoursignatureshowing,youcanputitinalargerenvelopetomail.Butbesureto:•  havethecorrectaddressand•  addenoughpostage.

•  YoucanalsouseUPSorFedEx.•  Inanycase,onlyonesealedballotcanbeplacedinanotherenvelopeformailing(unlessballotsarefromthesameaddress).

•  Ifyoucannotmailyourownballot,giveittoafamilymemberortrustedfriendtomail.Nevergiveittoastrangerorasomeoneworkingforacandidateorpoli=calparty.

Sourcesa)  MethodofReturningMarkedBallot,7TEX.ELEC.CODE§86.006.Retrievedfrom

h6p://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/EL/htm/EL.86.htmb)  Elec=onday.(2008,October17).MeandyouandEllie[Blog].Retrievedfrom

h6p://meandyouandellie.blogspot.com/2008/10/elec=on-day.html

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•  Ifyouneedhelpreading,marking,ormailingtheactualballot,askafamilymemberortrustedfriendforhelp.

•  Theassistantmaynotinanywaysuggestwhoyoushouldvotefor.•  Yourvoteissecret.•  Itisacrimeforsomeonetocoachyouhowtovoteortotellanyonehowyouvoted.

•  It’snotuncommonforsomeonefromapoli>calorganiza>ontooffertohelpwithyourballotsoonaAeryou’vereceivedit.Werecommendyoudeclinethiskindofhelpforseveralreasons.Ifyouallowyourballottobemailedbysomeoneyoudon’tknow,itmightnotbemailedatall.

•  Ifit’sdeliveredtotheelec>onsofficefromtheaddressofacandidateoracampaign’sheadquarters,yourballotwillberejected.

•  AnyonewhohelpsavoterwithamailballotinpersonMUSTputtheirnameandaddressonthecarrierenvelopeasawitnessorassistant&checktheappropriatebox.

•  Noonemaybeawitness(forvoterswhocan’tsigntheirname)formorethan1carrierenvelopeperelec>on.

Sourcesa)  TexasSecretaryofState.(n.d.)Helpfulhintsonvo/ngearlybymail.Retrievedfrom

hQp://www.votetexas.gov/vo>ng/when.html<HelpfulHintsforVo>ngbyMail>b)  Elec>onday.(2008,October17).MeandyouandEllie[Blog].Retrievedfrom

hQp://meandyouandellie.blogspot.com/2008/10/elec>on-day.htmlc)  Googleimages.RetrievedfromhQps://images.google.com

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•  Registertovote_________,__________,___•  Applytovotebymail_________,__________,___•  Votebymail_________,__________,___

•  Notethatallthedeadlinesarethedatestheapplica:onorballotmustbereceivedintheelec:onsoffice−notpostmarkedonthedeadline.

•  Thismeanstogetthereon:me,alocalballotmustbemailedatleast3-4daysinadvanceofthedeadline.

Sourcesa)  DeliveryofApplica:ontoRegistrar,2TEX.ELEC.CODE§13.042.RetrievedfromhPp://

www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/EL/htm/EL.13.htmb)  SubmiVngApplica:onforBallotVotedbyMail:GeneralRule,7TEX.ELEC.CODE§84.008.

RetrievedfromhPp://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/EL/htm/EL.84.htm

c)  DeadlineforReturningMarkedBallot,7TEX.ELEC.CODE§86.007.RetrievedfromhPp://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/EL/htm/EL.86.htm

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Therearealwayssomeballotsthatdon’tcountbecauseofasimpleoversight,suchas:•  Forgetngtosigntheoutsideenvelope.•  ThesignatureontheenvelopeandontheApplica=onforMailBallotaredifferent.

•  Worstofall,itgotinthemailtoolatetoarrivebyElec=onDay.

Sourcesa)  CaliforniaForward.(2014).Threecommonerrors:Vo=ngbyMail[Image]inYour

finalvotebymailcheatsheet!Retrievedfromh6p://www.cafwd.org/repor=ng/entry/your-final-vote-by-mail-cheatsheet

b)  Googleimages.Retrievedfromh6ps://images.google.com

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Soyoucanvotebymail,andnowyouknowhow:1.  Registertovoteorcheckthatyourvoterregistra=on

informa=onisup-to-date.2.  FillouttheApplica=onforBallotbyMail.3.  Voteassoonasyougetitinthemail.4.  Putitintheballotenvelope&seal;thens=ckthatenvelope

intheouterenvelope&seal.5.  Don’tforgettosignthebackoftheenvelope.6.  Addastampandmailitoff.7.  Finally,celebrateourdemocracyandthatyou,too,canBea

TexasVoter!

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Why vote? Because it counts in so many ways!•  Most importantly, voters elect officials who make significant decisions that effect our lives, such as

•  Taxes, roads, minimum wage, teacher pay, social security, health care—you name it•  Politicians listen to the people who vote—and they have access to the list of people who vote and

where they live•  Voting highlights the power of your neighborhood, city and state. The number of people voting

from where you live affects the resources allocated to where you live. For example,•  Senior citizens in this country have great government programs like Social Security and

Medicare. That’s because seniors as a group have a high turnout rate. So elected officials are very responsive to their needs. Young people on the other hand have a low turnout rate, so politicians are less in tune with their needs.

•  At the local level, have you ever wondered why the streets may be better in some parts of town than in others? If you look into it, you will almost always find that the areas with good streets are where voter turnout is high, and the areas with lots of pot holes are where voter turnout is low. The elected officials responsible for maintaining streets are more sensitive to areas where everybody votes and people talk to them.

•  Some of you may not like the choices on the ballot or the fact that your preferred candidate in the last election lost.

•  But in fact, usually half the voters (more or less) win and the rest lose.•  Close elections encourage elected officials to listen to diverse opinions on an issue.•  In the upcoming election, we need to vote and make the best choice we can among those

running to keep our government functioning. •  Being a voter empowers us to work toward solutions to problems in our community and our nation.•  The only time your vote doesn’t count is when you don’t vote.

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