Voters Guide
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NONPARTISAN ELECTION MATERIAL VOTERS GUIDE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF HOUSTON EDUCATION FUND MARCH 6, 2018 • PRIMARY ELECTION • POLLS OPEN 7AM TO 7PM INDEX DEMOCRATIC PARTY United States Senator . 5 United States Representative . 5 THINGS VOTERS Governor . 15 Lieutenant Governor . 16 Attorney General . 16 SHOULD NOW Comptroller of Public Accounts . .17 K Commissioner of General Land Office . 17 PHOTO ID IS REQUIRED TO VOTE IN PERSON IN ALL TEXAS ELECTIONS Commissioner of Agriculture . .17 Those voting in person, whether voting early or on Election Day, will be required to present a photo Railroad Commissioner . 18 identification or an alternative identification allowed by law. Please see page 2 of this Voters Guide for Supreme Court . 18 additional information. Photo ID will not be required of voters who vote by mail. Court of Criminal Appeals . 18. State Board of Education . 18 State Senator . 19 EARLY VOTING AND BALLOTS BY MAIL State Representative . 20 Early voting will begin on Tuesday, February 20 and end on Friday, March 2. See the back page of this Voters Court of Appeals . 25 Guide for locations and times. Any registered Harris County voter may cast an early ballot at any early voting LWV/TEXAS EDUCATION FUND Civil District Court . 26 location in Harris County. PROVIDES INFORMATION ON Criminal District Court . .31 County Judge . 31 VOTING BY MAIL CANDIDATES FOR U.S. SENATE County Criminal Court . 32 Voters may cast mail ballots if they are at least 65 years old, if they will be out of Harris County during the AND STATEWIDE CANDIDATES County Probate Court . 35 Our thanks to our state organization, Early Voting period and on Election Day, if they are sick or disabled or if they are incarcerated but eligible to County Civil Court . 36 the League of Women Voters of vote. Mail ballots may be requested by visiting harrisvotes.com or by phoning 713-755-6965. Your request District Clerk . 37 Texas, for contacting all opposed County Clerk . 38 must be received no later than Friday, February 23. For more information see page 3 of this Voters Guide. County Treasurer . 38 candidates for U.S. Senator, County School Trustee . 39 A SPECIAL MESSAGE FOR VOTERS WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY HURRICANE HARVEY: Governor, Lieutenant Governor, County Commissioner . 41 Attorney General, Comptroller, Justice of the Peace . 42 YOU STILL HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE! Land Commissioner, Railroad Ballot Issues . 44 If you are living temporarily away from your permanent place of residence, you may still vote in the March 6 Commissioner, Texas Supreme REPUBLICAN PARTY Primary Election. Here are your options: Court, Court of Criminal Appeals, United States Senator . 47 Court of Appeals and State United States Representative . 47 1. If you are living outside Harris County, you may request a Ballot by Mail. See the information above and School Board. LWV/TX provided Governor . 51 on page 3 of this Voters Guide to learn if you qualify to vote by mail and how to request, complete and candidate responses in both English Lieutenant Governor . 51 return your ballot. Attorney General . 52 and Spanish. We have included Comptroller of Public Accounts . .52 2. You may Early Vote at any one of the 46 Early Voting locations in Harris County, see page 68 of this responses from these candidates Commissioner of General Land Office . 52 Voters Guide for complete information about Early Voting. Highly Recommended. exactly as provided by LWV/TX. Commissioner of Agriculture . .53 Railroad Commissioner . 53 3. You may Vote In-Person on Election Day by returning to the Polling Location for your HOME PRECINCT, Supreme Court . 53 this is the precinct for your permanent home address prior to Harvey. If you are unsure of your Precinct THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS AND Court of Criminal Appeals . 54. Number, go to www.harrisvotes.com, enter your name and permanent address to find your Precinct State Senator . 54 SUPPORTERS State Representative . 55 Number and Polling Place. On Election Day, you may only vote by returning to your home precinct. The League of Women Voters Houston Court of Appeals . 57 Education Fund wishes to thank all those Civil District Court . 58 Should you encounter any problems at the poll, you may always ask to cast a Provisional Ballot. You who support our voter education and voter Criminal District Court . .60 service work through their donations and County Judge . 61 may also contact the County Clerk’s office at 713-755-6965, the Texas Secretary of State Election Division at County Criminal Court . 62 1-800-252-8683, or the United States Department of Justice at 1-800-253-3931 if you believe that your right volunteer time. Without them this Voters County Civil Court . 63 to vote is being unlawfully denied or impeded. Guide would not be possible. County Probate Court . 63 District Clerk . 64 County Clerk . 64 County Treasurer . 64 TAKE METRO TO THE POLLS ON ELECTION DAY—RIDE FREE! County School Trustee . 64 METRO is providing free rides to the polls on Saturday, February 24 for Early Voting and on Election Day, Tuesday, County Commissioner . 64 March 6, 2018. Get information by going to www.ridemetro.org or calling 713-635-4000. Justice of the Peace . 65 Harris County Republican Party Chairman . .66 Ballot Issues . 66 GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS AND THIS VOTERS GUIDE The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan organization. The League candidate running. This Voters Guide only covers races that will be decided by Voter Information . 2-4, 45, 46 of Women Voters and the League of Women Voters Education Fund do not the Primary Election process. Currently only the Democratic and Republican How to Access Your Specific Ballot . 6, 66 support or oppose any political party or candidate. For more than 90 years, the Parties use the Primary Election process to choose their candidates for the Voting for Judges in Texas . 4, 46 League’s mission has been to support active and informed citizen participation November General Election. Telephone Numbers / Websites . 67 in government. The League believes that voting is a vital part of Making The responses provided by candidates are reproduced without editing or LWV Membership Application . 67 Democracy Work. Early Voting Locations / Schedule . 68 verification. Each candidate is personally and solely responsible for the content The League of Women Voters of Houston Education Fund publishes the Voters of his/her response. Candidates are listed in the order in which they will appear Guide to help each voter cast an informed vote. Inside you will find information on the ballot. (More about the process used to assemble this Voters Guide can about the voting process, the duties and responsibilities of the offices that are be found on page 4 and 46.) included in this election, the names of candidates who are seeking to become No portion of this Voters Guide may be reproduced for use in political campaigns their party’s nominees in the General Election and the responses to selected or advertising. Other proposed uses are permitted only with advance written policy questions provided by candidates in races where there is more than one authorization of the League of Women Voters of Houston Education Fund. 1 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF HOUSTON EDUCATION FUND | MARCH 6, 2018 VOTERS GUIDE | WWW.LWVHOUSTON.ORG VOTING IN PERSON? YOU MUST BRING ONE OF THESE PHOTO IDs Texas driver license Texas personal issued by the Texas identification card issued Department of Public by DPS; current or have Safety (DPS); current or expired no more than 4 have expired no more years than 4 years Texas Election U. S. military identification Identification Certificate card containing the issued by DPS; current person’s photograph; or have expired no more current or have expired than 4 years no more than 4 years Texas license to carry a United States passport; handgun issued by DPS; current or have expired current or have expired no more than 4 years no more than 4 years 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 http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/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 or an acceptable supporting document may vote provisionally. polling place. The election official will help you complete a form and you’ll be able to vote. Voters will need to sign a provisional affidavit and will haveuntil Monday, March 12, 2018 to cure their ballot by bringing • Valid Voter Registration Certificate • Copy of or original current Utility Bill approved photo identification to the Voter Registrar. • Certified Birth Certificate (must be an original) • Copy of or original government document with your name and an • Copy of or original Bank Statement address (original required if it contains a photograph) EXEMPTION: Voters with a disability may apply with the county • Copy of or original Government check or paycheck voter registrar for a permanent exemption to showing ID at the polls. Voters with a religious objection to being photographed or voters who do not have a ID due to certain natural disasters If you have questions or concerns about acceptable form of ID, check before heading to the polling place by may apply for a temporary exemption to showing ID at the polls. calling 713.755.6965 or visiting www.harrisvotes.com Please contact your voter registrar for more details.