FINAL-DIGITAL-Houston-Vg-Eng-2020-General-Interactive.Pdf
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NONPARTISAN ELECTION MATERIAL VOTERS GUIDE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF HOUSTON EDUCATION FUND NOVEMBER 3, 2020 • GENERAL & SPECIAL ELECTIONS • POLLS OPEN 7AM TO 7PM WISH YOU WERE READING THIS IN CHINESE, THINGS VOTERS SPANISH, OR VIETNAMESE? YOU CAN! GO TO SHOULDKNOW WWW.LWVHOUSTON.ORG/ PHOTO ID IS REQUIRED TO VOTE IN PERSON IN ALL TEXAS ELECTIONS VOTERSGUIDE Those voting in person either early or on election day will be required to present photo identification or an acceptable alternative identification allowed by law. Go to page 2 for details. VOTERS GUIDE UNDERWRITERS* NEW! ANY HARRIS COUNTY POLLING LOCATION CAN BE YOUR POLLING PLACE INDEX All Harris County polling places are now Voting Centers! Choose the location that is most convenient League of Women Voters Houston to you — you no longer have to return to your home precinct to vote! Go to https://www.harrisvotes. Education Fund Races in Italics Will Appear on All Ballots. com/waittimes or call 713-755-6965 to find the location nearest to you. Bonus! By using the link, you Other races are voter specific and will vary. See will also be able to see which locations have the shortest wait times. For more information about voting page 4 to learn how to access your specific ballot. Houston in Action times, go to page 44. President........................................................5 OCA-Greater Houston United States Senator.........................................................6 NEW! SINGLE PARTY VOTING IS NO LONGER AN OPTION WHEN VOTING IN PERSON United States Representative................................ 7 Voters will have to select their preferred candidate in each race. Note: If there are races where you do not Thanks also to everyone who provided Railroad Commissioner...................................................13 wish to select a candidate, you may skip that race(s). Before hitting the “VOTE” button, be sure to check funding support through their donations Chief Justice, Texas Supreme Court...........................14 the vote summary section to ensure that you have correctly voted in all of the races where you want to to the Voters Guide. We invite you to Justice, Texas Supreme Court.....................................15 make a selection. Poll workers can assist you, if you have technical questions. join your fellow Houston-area voters in Judge, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals................17 supporting the Voters Guide. See page State Board of Education.....................................18 BALLOT BY MAIL 10 for details. State Senator.......................................................19 Voters may cast mail ballots if they are at least 65 years old, if they will be out of Harris County during the State Representative........................................21 Early Voting period and on Election Day, if they are sick or disabled, or if they are incarcerated but eligible *As of print date. For complete list of Chief Justice, Court of Appeals......................................30 to vote. You can learn more about if you qualify (including the latest court rulings regarding COVID-19) and donors go to www.LWVHouston. org Justice, Court of Appeals................................................31 request a Ballot-by-Mail by visiting www.harrisvotes.com or by phoning 713-755-6965. A signed paper District Judge, Civil..........................................................32 copy of your ballot by mail request must be received no later than Friday, October 23, 2020. Requests OUR THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS District Judge, Criminal..................................................36 received by fax or email will not be honored. For more information, go to page 4. District Judge, Family......................................................36 AND VOLUNTEERS District Attorney...................................................................37 The League of Women Voters of Houston RETURNING A BALLOT BY MAIL Judge, County Civil Court At Law...............................37 wishes to thank the League of Women A completed mail ballot MUST be returned to the Harris County Clerk’s Office in the Official Carrier Envelope Judge, County Criminal Court At Law.........................38 Voters of United States for providing County Attorney...............................................................39 provided to you. It may be returned in any of the following manners: (1) Regular residential mail via United information about the candidates for President and the League of Women County Clerk.....................................................................39 States Postal Service; (2) In-person drop off at any of the Harris County Clerk Annex locations during regular business hours through Election Day; (3) Common or contract carrier such as personal courier, or Voters of Texas for providing information Sheriff.............................................................................40 about candidates for statewide office. County Tax Assessor-Collector..................................40 FedEx or UPS, or other contracted mail service. For more details, and special instructions for U.S. Military personnel, go to pages 3 and 4. We also wish to thank our many County Department of Education........................41 Return Deadlines, community partners who assist with County Commissioner........................................41 production and distribution of the Justice of the Peace............................................42 VOTING IS YOUR RIGHT Voters Guide. Special recognition and Constable........................................................43 Should you encounter any problems at the poll, you may always ask to cast a Provisional Ballot and have the thanks to our members who support opportunity to correct any problem; see page 2 for details about “curing” a ballot. You may also contact the our voter education and voter service GENERAL INFORMATION County Clerk’s office at 713-755-6965, the Texas Secretary of State Election Division at 1-800-252-8683, work through their personal donations Voter Information.................................pages 2, 3, 4 or the United States Department of Justice at 1-800-253-3931 if you believe that your right to vote is being and volunteer time. Without them this How to Access Your Specific Ballot.....................22 unlawfully denied or impeded. Voters Guide would not be possible. Voting for Judges in Texas..................................4 Early Voting Schedule........................................44 ABOUT THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS AND THIS VOTERS GUIDE The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan organization. The League offices that are included in this election, and a complete list of candidates TAKE METRO TO THE POLLS-- of Women Voters and the League of Women Voters Education Fund do who will appear on the ballot in Harris County. FREE RIDE not support or oppose any political party or candidate. For 100 years, Candidates running in opposed races have been asked to submit answers METRO is providing free rides to the League’s mission has been to support active and informed citizen to questions posed by the League of Women Voters and their responses are the polls Saturday, October 17 and participation in government. The League believes that voting is a vital part included in this Guide. Saturday, October, 24 for Early Voting and on Election Day, Tuesday, of Making Democracy Work. No portion of this Voters Guide may be reproduced for use in political November 3, 2020. Get information The League of Women Voters of Houston Education Fund publishes the campaigns or advertising. Other proposed uses are permitted only with by going to www.ridemetro.org or Voters Guide to help each voter cast an informed vote. Inside you will find advance written authorization of the League of Women Voters of Houston calling 713-635-4000. information about the voting process, the duties and responsibilities of the Education Fund. LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF HOUSTON EDUCATION FUND | NOVEMBER 3, 2020 VOTERS GUIDE | WWW.LWVHOUSTON.ORG 1 VOTING IN PERSON? YOU MUST BRING ONE OF THESE PHOTO IDs With the exception of the U.S. citizenship certificate, the identification must be current or, for voters aged 18-69, have expired no more than 4 years before being presented for voter qualification at the polling place. A person 70 years of age or older may use a form of identification listed below that has expired if the identification is otherwise valid. Texas driver license Texas personal issued by the Texas identification card issued Department of Public by DPS Safety (DPS) Texas Election U. S. military identification Identification Certificate card containing the issued by DPS person’s photograph Texas license to carry a United States passport handgun issued by DPS United States citizenship certificate containing the person’s photograph Voters who currently do not have an approved form of photo ID may apply for an Election Identification Certificate (EIC) at no charge with the Department of Public Safety. For more information: CALL (512) 424-2600 OR VISIT https://www.dps.texas.gov/DriverLicense/electionID.htm Do not possess and cannot reasonably obtain one of these IDs? Bring one of the following supporting documents to the Voters who are unable to provide an acceptable form of photo ID polling place. The election official will help you complete a form and you’ll be able to vote. or an acceptable supporting document may vote provisionally. Voters will need to sign a provisional affidavit and will have until Monday, November 9, 2020 to cure their