As members of the Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA) know, tomorrow, Tuesday, March 5 is Primary Election Day!
According to the Secretary of State’s office, more than 1.8 million votes were cast during the early voting period, for a statewide turnout of 10.14%. Bear in mind, this is out of 17.9 million registered voters.
These elections will be close. Every vote will matter! Voting is an investment in TRTA’s advocacy and our future successes in the public policy process. Members, if you have not voted yet, please be sure to head to the polls tomorrow and take friends, family members, and neighbors with you!
The success of the Proposition 9 campaign is due to the hard work TRTA members did to get out the vote. Your efforts won the day! Thanks to our spectacular results on Prop 9, people are now watching to see if retired educators will show up at the polls during election cycles.
If we are active and visible at the polls, we will be more successful in our future legislative advocacy efforts. This is especially true for the Primary Election.
While TRTA does not endorse candidates, members can tell others who they are voting for and why. Every incumbent running for reelection voted “FOR” retired educators to receive the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) and the supplemental check, as well as paying for those benefit enhancements in full. Incumbents have a pro-TRS track record.
TRTA members have a track record of voting and voting early! Please remember that 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. Voters—this means you—have the power!
Election Day Details
Per the Texas Secretary of State, Election Day voting hours are 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at all polling places statewide. Texans can find their polling place by using the My Voter Portal. If a county participates in the Countywide Polling Place Program, voters may cast a ballot at any location in their county on Election Day. If a county does not offer countywide polling, voters must cast their ballot at a location specific to their registration precinct. Questions regarding polling places can be directed to each county elections office.
At the polls, voters should come prepared to present one of the seven acceptable forms of photo ID:
- Texas Driver License
- Texas Personal Identification Card
- Passport
- Texas Handgun License
- Military Identification Card
- Citizenship Certificate
- Texas Election Identification Certificate
Voters who do not have and cannot reasonably obtain one of the seven approved forms of photo ID can fill out a Reasonable Impediment Declaration at the polls and present an alternative form of identification, such as a utility bill, bank statement, government check, or a voter registration certificate.
Under Texas law, the use of items like cell phones, tablets, cameras, or any form of wireless communication or recording device is not permitted within 100 feet of voting stations.
Election night results will be available through the election night returns portal. For more information, please visit VoteTexas.gov or call 1-800-252-VOTE.
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!
