Today is Runoff Day. If you did not vote during Early Voting, this is your lasr chance. The following is from the Harris County Clerk’s office:
Harris County Clerk Beverly Kaufman, the chief elections officer of the County, made available a list of important election related facts voters should be aware of as they go to the polls to participate in Saturday’s Dec. 12th Joint Runoff Election:
- On Saturday, Dec. 12th, polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- To participate in the Joint Runoff Election a person must be registered to vote in the City of Houston, City of Bellaire or District 1 or 9 of the Houston Independent School District.
- Eligible voters that did not vote on Nov. 3rd may vote in the Dec. 12th Joint Runoff Election.
- On Election Day a voter must vote at the poll the precinct where he/she is registered to vote is voting.
- There will be 11 elections on the Joint Runoff ballot. However, the address in which a voter is registered will determine the number of contests that will appear on the ballot. A voter may visit the Tax Assessor Collectors website to find out which political subdivisions are connected to the voter’s address:http://www.hctax.net/ASP/streetguide/frameset.asp.
- Acceptable forms of identification to vote include: 1. A voter registration certificate; 2. a driver’s license or personal identification card issued to the voter by the Department of Public Safety or a similar document issued to the voter by an agency of another state, regardless of whether the license or card has expired; 3. a form of identification containing the voter’s photograph that establishes the voter’s identity; 4. a birth certificate or other document confirming birth that is admissible in a court of law and establishes the voter’s identity; 5. United States citizenship papers issued to the voter; 6. a United States passport issued to the voter; 7. official mail addressed to the voter, by name, from a governmental entity; 8. a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the voter’s name and address.
- State law provides that a voter may bring someone of their choosing to the polling place to provide assistance. The person providing assistance must sign the Affidavit of Voter Assistance and print his/her name on the poll list, to attest to the fact that they will not unduly influence the voter.
- Individuals who go vote on Election Day and are not found on the poll book may vote provisionally. [The acceptance of the provisional vote will be determined by an independent Ballot Board during the period that falls between Election Day and before the results are made official by the governing authority (City of Houston) who ordered the election. Some, but not all, of the factors the Board considers in making a determination on the provisional ballot include, is the person in question actually registered voter in one of the political subdivisions who had items on the ballot? And, did the person vote at the correct polling location?]
For more information pertaining to Election Day polling locations, voters may call 713.755.6965 or visit the Harris County Clerk Elections website, www.harrisvotes.com. To check on voter registration status, voters should call the Voter Registrar at 713-368-2200.
Do be aware that for runoffs, some polling places that were open for the general election may not be open this time around. Here’s a message about that from the Harris County Democratic Party:
The Harris County Democratic Party wants to remind voters that they may confirm their Election Day polling location by visiting our website, www.hcdp.org, or by calling our office at (713) 802-0085. Our hardworking volunteers and staff will be happy to assist you in locating your polling location for the runoff election this coming Saturday, December 12. The polls will be open from 7am to 7pm.
With every election, we hear countless stories of voters discovering too late that their polling locations have changed. Polling locations tend to change or move during runoff elections. Several precincts can be combined and assigned to a single polling location during runoff elections.
The Runoff Election on Saturday, Dec. 12, is being conducted for races in the City of Houston, City of Bellaire, and the Houston Independent School District.
The Harris County Democratic Party urges all voters to call the office at (713) 802-0085 or visit our website at www.hcdp.org and confirm your Election Day polling location.
Here’s a reminder from the Chron about why you should vote, and a reminder about who they think you should vote for. Hair Balls has more.