AUSTIN, Texas — If you live in Texas, the deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 5 election was Oct. 7. Each year, thousands of people head to the polls to cast their ballots, only to find out that they won’t be able to. But don’t judge them too harshly: More than half of all states allow either same-day registration, early-voting registration or – in the case of North Dakota – don’t require voter registration at all.
If you’re one of the many Texans realizing it’s too late to register to cast your ballot, don’t despair. There are still a few things you can do to participate in the democratic process.
Register to vote for the next election
It’s hardly a consolation, but you can register to vote now for the next election. Every year, there is something to be voted on, whether it’s city, county, state or national elections. Don’t put it off for another year.
In Texas, you can’t register to vote electronically. But you can register to vote at the same time you get or renew a driver’s license or state ID, or you can register to vote by mail or in person.
Remember: you can fill out an application to register to vote online, but that application has to be printed and either taken in person or mailed to your county election office.
Volunteer
Every party, political action committee, candidate and cause needs people to volunteer their time to help their campaign. Volunteers do things like knocking on doors to talk to other voters, answering phone calls and helping with administrative tasks. Find the cause or candidate that you’re passionate about and contact them. There’s a great likelihood that they’ll jump at the chance to have more helping hands.
Encourage others
If you convince two people to go to the polls, you’ve done more than casting a ballot. Talk to your loved ones who are registered to vote and encourage them to take the time to vote.
In the 2020 presidential election, only 60% of eligible voters cast a ballot. Talk to others about the importance of voting, or even offer to give them a ride.
Keep in mind, there are some forms of voting encouragement that are illegal in Texas. According to Texas Penal Code, it’s illegal for anyone to “influence the independent exercise of the vote of another in the presence of the ballot or during the voting process.” In other words, don’t encourage people as they’re voting or if they’re just about to vote. That moves from the realm of “encouragement” to the ream of “intimidation.”
Learn about the voting process
KVUE has a voter guide that can teach you more about how to vote, where to vote and a list of candidates on the ballot. There’s also a lot more election coverage on KVUE.com/VoteTexas, and you can track the latest results on KVUE.com/Elections on Election Day.
No matter where you choose to get your news and information, stay informed about the candidates, issues and voting process so that you can vote next year.