Members of the Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA), the November General Election is approaching quickly! Early voting begins in one week. As we head into the 89th Legislative Session that begins in January, it’s important for our members to make a plan to vote!
Researching Candidates
There will be many new faces in the Texas Legislature in 2025, and it’s time to put on your educator hats! TRTA members are the best at educating candidates on the needs of Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) retirees and at building relationships with elected officials.
As you decide how to vote, please download TRTA’s Legislative Priorities for the 89th Legislative Session. TRTA does not endorse candidates for political office. We do ask our members to reach out to candidates and ask them where they stand on issues that matter to TRS retirees.
TRTA’s Priorities may be useful to you as you determine which candidates at the state and federal levels support issues that impact retired Texas public school personnel.
- If they are candidates for the Texas Legislature, will they commit to fully funding the pension fund and TRS-Care, and providing a benefit enhancement for TRS retirees when possible?
- If they are congressional candidates, will they commit to ending the Social Security offsets— the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO)—that reduce Texas educators’ earned benefits?
Finding Candidate Forums
Candidate forums are a great way to get your questions answered before you vote! Many TRTA local chapters are conducting candidate forums this fall. Some districts will also host candidates at their fall conferences. Ask for details from your local chapter president if you already are a chapter member or contact a local chapter or district near you for more information.
Raise Your Hand Texas is hosting multiple candidate forums across Texas. Visit this link to view the schedule of events and find meeting details.
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan organization that provides voting and candidate information. Visit www.411.org to learn more.
Teach the Vote is a great resource for locating information about candidates and their positions on education issues.
Key Dates for the 2024 November General Election
| Oct. 21-Nov. 1 | Early voting period |
| Oct. 25 | Last day to apply to vote by mail |
| Nov. 5 | Election Day |
Get Prepared for the Election!
We encourage our members to vote early and to bring along friends, family members, and neighbors to the polls. Review your ballot ahead of time and make a plan!
You can view polling locations and hours on the Secretary of State’s website. VoteTexas.org is another great resource for voting information.
Thank You!
Thank you for being a member of TRTA. Please renew your dues with TRTA if you have not done so already, as our work in the Texas Capitol and on Capitol Hill is fueled by our members’ financial support! If you know someone who is not a member, please invite them to join us! There is strength in numbers and the surest way for us to accomplish success is to grow the organization.
