Early voting begins today

Early voting begins today for the November 6 election.

Early voting begins today in the Nov. 6 general election, which includes 16 constitutional amendments proposed by Texas lawmakers, the city of Houston's mayoral and council elections, $805 million in bonds proposed by the Houston Independent School District, and $893 million Harris County and Port of Houston bonds.

Voters in 28 other area cities, school districts and other political entities also start going to the polls today. Some area ballots will have as many as 34 items for voters to consider, Harris County Clerk Beverly Kaufman said last week.

There are 33 early voting locations across Harris County, which can be found at Kaufman's Web site, www.harrisvotes.org.

There are some changes to the early voting locations, Kaufman said. Voters should note that the Hobby area early voting location has returned to the IBEW Hall #66, at 4345 Allen Genoa.

Voting in Kingwood will be at the Harris County Library's Kingwood Branch at 4102 Rustic Woods and voting in far west Houston will be at the Altharetta Yeargin Art Museum, located at 901 Yorkchester.

From today through Friday the early voting schedule is 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday; and from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.

A complete map and schedule is here (PDF).

Kaufman encouraged voters to bring voter registration cards and another form of identification, such as a driver's license, to the early vote locations.

And I would encourage you to bring one or the other, but not both, as you are not required to show both. Seems Kaufman wants to get you used to the idea that you need both, in the event that one of the odious voter ID laws ever passes. Don't give in to this.

Anyway. There are many fine candidates on the ballot that are worthy of your consideration. I'd be remiss if I didn't remind you about this one:

Don't wait till the sixth. Vote now so you don't have to worry about it later. And please vote wisely. Thanks very much.

UPDATE: From Julie Keller in the comments:

As odious as Voter ID laws are, you should encourage your readers to bring both voter card and another ID, because newly registered, first-time voters are required to show ID the first time they vote.

This is, I think, a new law, and could be part of HAVA. I worked as a Texas elections judge in the 2004 primary. Newly enrolled voters appear on the voter rolls with a "ID REQUIRED" or "NEW VOTER" or some such designation next to their names. When they check in, and the elections judge notices they're a first time voter, they are required to ask to see some ID before allowing first time voters to vote.

I don't like it either, it impresses me as the Texas GOP's response to motor voter drives. But it's the law.

Fair enough. I figure most people reading this will have a driver's license with them anyway, I just don't want to encourage anyone to think they have to show it if they don't. But if this is how it is for first-time voters, then please do be prepared.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on October 22, 2007 to Election 2007