Early voting continues in Texas this week through Friday, November 4. We know many members of the Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA) have made it to the polls already, and many more will cast their votes soon.
Election day is next Tuesday, November 8, but we recommend that all members avoid those longer lines and vote early!
TRTA is proud to partner with Texas Educators Vote, and we encourage all retired and active educators to take the oath to vote! We also encourage our retired members to volunteer at polling locations, or even at their local schools.
Together, we can help create a civic-minded environment on every school campus with a focus on getting all educators to vote!
Many TRTA members are volunteering on school campuses this week and next so that our friends in the active educator community can take time out of their busy schedules to get to the polls. Our retirees also serve as great advocates for first-time student voters, explaining the voting process to them and letting them know that every vote matters.
Austin’s NPR station, KUT, published a great article today about how educators, both retired and active, across the state are coming together to get out the vote! Texas Educators Vote is a coalition of education groups working together to build strength in numbers.
“The idea,” according to Texas Educators Vote Executive Director Laura Yeager, “is to educate teachers and hope that education trickles down to students and other school employees.”
Read the article in its entirety by clicking here.
If you are a retiree who wants to help out on a school campus this week, please contact TRTA Administrative Coordinator Brock Gregg o visitar el Texas Educators Vote website to learn more. You can also follow Texas Educators Vote on Gorjeo o Facebook.
Locating Early Voting Sites
You will be able to find early voting locations by using the search site Am I Registered?, which will be populated with voting sites a few days before early voting begins. Or, you may want to contact the Early Voting Clerk for State and County Elections in your county. Also, many newspapers publish early voting and Election Day polling locations, so you may be able to find the information there.
Local unit leaders, activate your phone trees and remind your members about early voting schedules. Check with members who you think may need a ride to the polling location and offer to start a carpool on an early voting day!
Who to Vote For
Elections determine policy outcomes. They are the biggest factor in determining what happens during the Texas Legislative Session. We must elect officials who see the value in not only the TRS defined benefit plan, but our other valuable retirement benefits as well!
The Senators and Representatives who are elected during this cycle will have the enormous responsibility of deciding the future of TRS-Care. If nothing is done during the next Legislative Session to protect TRS-Care, participants in the program could see massive premium increases or changes in benefits, or both!
Many statewide races may have been decided during the March primaries, but there are still several competitive races on the ballot. Click on the links below to review Texas Senate and Texas House of Representatives races.
Click here to find Texas State Senate races.
Click here to find Texas State House of Representatives races.
Take some time now to visit your legislators in their district offices and contact any candidates to share this TRTA Fact Sheet with them. Ask them for their support of initiatives that provide our education retirees and pre-retirees with financial security and affordable, quality health care!
Still not sure who to vote for? Below are some resources TRTA recommends to help you conduct research on candidates. We also encourage you to visit a TRTA local unitand ask your fellow retirees who they are voting for and why!
Teach the Vote
Texas Educators Vote
Texas Teachers Vote
Texas Parent PAC
Texas League of Women Voters
Texas Tribune
Gracias
Thank you for being a member of TRTA! If you are not a member and are interested in joining, please contact our Membership Department at 1.800.880.1650.
Protecting your retirement benefits is one of TRTA’s top priorities, and your participation makes all the difference! Be sure to stay tuned to our other digital mediums to stay informed on all the latest news and updates. Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
