Primary Election 2022 is right around the corner! The Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA) is asking its members to begin educating candidates about the issues that matter to Texas retired school employees.
Before our members can begin this vital task, there are a few housekeeping items we want members to review as soon as possible. The election may be in March, but the steps to get us there have urgent deadlines that are fast approaching!
Resources to Help You Get Started
Priority number one for TRTA members is to ensure you are registered to vote! The deadline to register is January 31, 2022.
- Are you registered to vote? Check your voter registration status here!
- Remember, if you have moved recently, you may need to update your registration. Review this checklist to determine if you need to re-register.
- If you need to register to vote, you may do so online here.
- Still have questions about registration and voting? Click here!
- You may also view the Primary Election schedule in the chart at the bottom of this article.
Next, we encourage our members to begin researching the candidates running for political office in your district and at the statewide level.
- Click aquí para PREVIEW YOUR BALLOT and determine who is running for State Senator and/or Representative in your district!
We are also asking our members to review the TRTA 2022 Legislative Priorities document. This resource will come in handy as you begin reaching out to candidates’ offices to determine where they stand on the issues that matter most to Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TSR) retirees.
What You Really Need to Know
TRTA knows we must fight for a meaningful cost-of-living increase for Texas public education retirees when the 88th Texas Legislature begins in 2023; but the road to influencing future policy outcomes starts NOW, not in 2023.
Nothing is more important right now than voting in the Primary Election! Most elections in Texas are decided during the primary election cycle, though far fewer voters arrive at the polls to cast votes.
Every election y every single vote matters. It all comes down to the reality of elections: Voters are the ones who have the power! Right now, we are back at that pivotal moment when TRTA can build its policy power by increasing our voting power.
We cannot stress this enough: Numbers really matter when it comes to elections. Numbers matter even more in a Primary Election. Those numbers become exponentially more important when runoff elections occur in May.
Candidates running for elected office need big numbers to show up at the polls. If TRS retirees and pre-retirees (active school employees) have an insurmountable voting track record, our issues remain high priority in any session—no matter what party has the majority.
The more we recognize this, truly believe it and live it, the more we will win on our policy agenda. The more involved you are in elections, the more you matter. Those who impact political outcomes by voting have stronger influence. You simply have a better chance of getting more when you are involved. That is the cycle of power and influence!
Primary Election Schedule
| First day to apply for a ballot by mail using Application for a Ballot by Mail (ABBM) or Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). | Saturday, January 1, 2022 |
| Last Day to Register to Vote | Monday, January 31, 2022 |
| First Day of Early Voting by Personal Appearance | Monday, February 14, 2022 |
| Last Day to Apply for Ballot by Mail (Received, not Postmarked) |
Friday, February 18, 2022 |
| Last Day of Early Voting by Personal Appearance | Friday, February 25, 2022 |
| Last day to Receive Ballot by Mail | Tuesday, March 1, 2022 (Election Day) at 7:00 p.m. if carrier envelope is not postmarked, OR Thursday, March 3, 2022 (next business day* after Election Day) at 5:00 p.m. if carrier envelope is postmarked by 7:00 p.m. at the location of the election on Election Day (unless overseas or military voter deadlines apply) |
¡Gracias!
Stay tuned to the Línea interior as we continue with a series of articles to help members prepare for Primary Election 2022.
¡TRTA es el único grupo que se enfoca únicamente en su seguridad de jubilación TRS! Únase a nosotros hoy!
Thank you for being a member of TRTA and supporting issues that affect retired Texas public school personnel. Be sure to download the TRTA app to receive all of the latest updates and communicate with your fellow retirees.
