Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA) members and supporters—IT’S TIME! Primary Election 2024 is here.
TRTA members have a track record of voting and voting early! The Texas Legislature has a track record of prioritizing the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) and issues impacting TRS retirees during past legislative sessions.
Remember, most elections in Texas are decided during the primary election cycle. According to the Texas Tribune, only 18% of registered voters cast a ballot in the 2022 primaries. Every election and every single vote matters, and voters—this means you—have the power!
Let’s Go Vote!
EARLY VOTING PERIOD: February 20-March 1
The early voting period for the 2024 Primary Election in Texas begins Tuesday, February 20 and continues through Friday, March 1.
Learn more about early voting in Texas here. You do not have to meet any special qualifications to vote early in person–if you are registered and qualified to vote on Election Day, you can also cast a ballot during the early voting period!
TRTA encourages its members to get out and vote as early as possible! Don’t forget to bring along family members and friends to the polls with you!
Send us your “I VOTED!” photos and we will post them on Facebook! Photos may be sent to info@trta.org.
EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS
Registered and eligible voters may vote at ANY early voting location located in their county of residence. Early voting locations will be populated in the “My Voter Portal” two days prior to the first day of early voting. You can also contact the Early Voting Clerk for State and County Elections in your county for early voting locations or check your local newspaper. Polling location hours vary at each early voting location, and we encourage you to verify those hours prior to voting.
VOTER ID INFORMATION
Under Texas law, voters who possess one of the seven acceptable forms of photo ID must present that ID at the polls when voting in person. Voters who do not possess and cannot reasonably obtain one of the seven approved forms of photo ID may fill out a Reasonable Impediment Declaration (RID) (PDF) at the polls and present an alternative form of ID, such as a utility bill, bank statement, government check, or a voter registration certificate.
Here is a list of the acceptable forms of photo ID:
- Texas Driver License issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
- Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS
- Texas Personal Identification Card issued by DPS
- Texas Handgun License issued by DPS
- United States Military Identification Card containing the person’s photograph
- United States Citizenship Certificate containing the person’s photograph
- United States Passport (book or card)
For more information about Voter IDs, please visit this link.
CANDIDATE RESEARCH
You can retrieve a complete list of the candidates on your ballot by visiting www.trta.org/2024primary. Still not sure who to vote for? Ask a fellow retiree who they are voting for and why! You can also use the resources listed below to gather more information about candidates.
- Teach the Vote is a site operated by the Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE).
- The League of Women Voters provides nonpartisan voter guides in several languages.
Alternatively, for members who plan to meet candidates in person or attend public forums, the following questions may provide you with important feedback regarding their stance on issues affecting Texas public education retirees.
- Does he or she support the TRS defined benefit plan for all current and future Texas public education retirees?
- If elected, would he or she be willing to work with TRTA on benefit enhancements that protect and improve TRS retirement security?
- If elected, what will he or she do to maintain and improve funding for TRS-Care?
- If elected, will he or she support efforts to repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO)?
THANK YOU!
Thank you for being a member of TRTA. We are asking members to renew their dues with TRTA if they have not done so already. If you know someone who is not a member, please invite them to join us!
