Have You Researched Your Ballot?
In the November General Election of 2024, races at the federal, state, jurisdiction, county, and local levels are all on the ballot. All three branches of government are included: executive, legislative, and judicial.
At the federal level are president and vice-president of the United States, one-third of all U.S. Senators (including one from Texas), and every member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
At the state level, some of the members of the Texas Senate and all members of the Texas House of Representatives, some of the justices on the Texas Supreme Court and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.
Jurisdictional races include seats on each of the Courts of Appeal. State appeals courts are organized by multi-county regional jurisdictions. District courts' boundaries typically cross county boundaries.
County races on the ballot for Hays County voters include the Sheriff's Office, the Tax Assessor-Collector, two of the four County Commissioners, some of the Justices of the Peace for particular county precincts, and judges for some of the County Courts-at-Law.
Local races (non-county) include school district boards of trustees and city councils (if they did not choose a May local election date).
Every election matters. The character of the candidates matter. Their plans and platform matter. When elected, their work affects the lives and future of those they serve.
Researching the candidates can help you evaluate them on whether he or she will be likely to advance policies and practices that will best serve their constituency in ways that most align with your beliefs and values. The League of Women Voters Voters Guides or the online version of the Voters Guide, Vote411 is a good place to start.
Other aids to research include videos of interviews and candidate forums or debates, and Ballotpedia.org, which often has links which allow you to read articles in local publications about a candidate.
Vote411.org is now live for the November 5, 2024 General Election. By entering your address and choosing to see the races and candidates on your ballot, you can make a selection online for a particular race, then go to the next race and continue the process. At the end you can print out or email your list to yourself (or copy it down) to take with you to aid your memory while you vote. (You may not use your phone while voting.)
Important Note: Your address is NEVER SAVED in Vote411 to keep your personal data secure.
Have you ever voted and found a lot of candidate names and races you didn't know would be there on the ballot? What's up with THAT?!
Ballots can be long and often the candidates for what are known as "down-ballot" races do not receive enough donations to advertise, so voter may not have heard about them. But Vote411 can help you be prepared.
Or feel free to skip races where you do not know any candidate. When in doubt, skip that race.