NONPARTISAN ELECTION MATERIAL VOTERS GUIDE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF HOUSTON EDUCATION FUND NOVEMBER 6, 2018 • GENERAL ELECTION • POLLS OPEN 7AM TO 7PM INDEX THINGS VOTERS United States Senator . 5. SHOULD NOW United States Representative . .5 K PHOTO ID IS REQUIRED TO VOTE IN PERSON IN ALL TEXAS ELECTIONS Governor . .13 Those voting in person, whether voting early or on Election Day, will be required to present a photo Lieutenant Governor . .14 identification or an alternative identification allowed by law. Please see page 2 of this Voters Guide for additional information. Attorney General . 14. LWV/TEXAS EDUCATION FUND EARLY VOTING PROVIDES INFORMATION ON Comptroller of Public Accounts . 15. Early voting will begin on Monday, October 22 and end on Friday, November 2. See page 12 of this Voters CANDIDATES FOR U.S. SENATE Guide for locations and times. Any registered Harris County voter may cast an early ballot at any early voting Commissioner of General Land Office . .15 AND STATEWIDE CANDIDATES location in Harris County. Our thanks to our state organization, Commissioner of Agriculture . 16. the League of Women Voters of VOTING BY MAIL Texas, for contacting all opposed Railroad Commissioner . 16. Voters may cast mail ballots if they are at least 65 years old, if they will be out of Harris County during the candidates for U.S. Senator, Supreme Court . .17 Early Voting period and on Election Day, if they are sick or disabled or if they are incarcerated but eligible to Governor, Lieutenant Governor, vote. Mail ballots may be requested by visiting harrisvotes.com or by phoning 713-755-6965. Your request Attorney General, Comptroller, Court of Criminal Appeals . 18. must be received no later than Friday, October 26. For more information see page 3 of this Voters Guide. Land Commissioner, Railroad Commissioner, Texas Supreme State Board of Education . .19 A SPECIAL MESSAGE FOR VOTERS WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY HURRICANE HARVEY: Court, Court of Criminal Appeals, State Senator . .19 YOU STILL HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE! Court of Appeals and State If you are living temporarily away from your permanent place of residence, you may still vote in the November School Board. LWV/TX provided State Representative . 21. 6 General Election. Here are your options: candidate responses in both English and Spanish. We have included Court of Appeals . .29 1. If you are living outside Harris County, you may request a Ballot by Mail. See the information above and responses from these candidates Civil District Court . .32 on page 3 of this Voters Guide to learn if you qualify to vote by mail and how to request, complete and exactly as provided by LWV/TX. return your ballot. Criminal District Court . 36. 2. You may Early Vote at any one of the 46 Early Voting locations in Harris County, see page 12 of this THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS AND Family/Juvenile District Court . .40 Voters Guide for complete information about Early Voting. Highly Recommended. SUPPORTERS County Judge . .46 3. You may Vote In-Person on Election Day by returning to the Polling Location for your HOME PRECINCT, The League of Women Voters Houston this is the precinct for your permanent home address prior to Harvey. If you are unsure of your Precinct Education Fund wishes to thank all those County Civil Court . 46. Number, go to www.harrisvotes.com, enter your name and permanent address to find your Precinct who support our voter education and voter County Criminal Court . 48. Number and Polling Place. On Election Day, you may only vote by returning to your home precinct. service work through their donations and volunteer time. Without them this Voters County Probate Court . .54 Guide would not be possible. Should you encounter any problems at the poll, you may always ask to cast a Provisional Ballot. You Special thanks to the Houston in Action District Clerk . .56 may also contact the County Clerk’s office at 713-755-6965, the Texas Secretary of State Election Division at initiative for providing funding that 1-800-252-8683, or the United States Department of Justice at 1-800-253-3931 if you believe that your right County Clerk . .56 enabled us to produce Spanish and to vote is being unlawfully denied or impeded. Vietnamese editions of the Voters Guide. County Treasurer . .57 County School Trustee . .57 TAKE METRO TO THE POLLS ON ELECTION DAY—RIDE FREE! County Commissioner . .58 METRO is providing free rides to the polls on Saturday, October 27 for Early Voting and on Election Day, Tuesday, November 6, 2018. Get information by going to www.ridemetro.org or calling 713-635-4000. Justice of the Peace . .59 Ballot Issues . .60 ABOUT THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS AND THIS VOTERS GUIDE The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan organization. The League This Voters Guide covers races and ballot issues that appear on the November 6, GENERAL INFORMATION of Women Voters and the League of Women Voters Education Fund do not 2018 General Election ballot. support or oppose any political party or candidate. For more than 90 years, the The responses provided by candidates are reproduced without editing or Voter Information . 2-4, 11 League’s mission has been to support active and informed citizen participation verification. Each candidate is personally and solely responsible for the content in government. The League believes that voting is a vital part of Making of his/her response. Candidates are listed in the order in which they will appear How to Access Your Specific Ballot . .4 Democracy Work. on the ballot. (More about the process used to assemble this Voters Guide can The League of Women Voters of Houston Education Fund publishes the Voters be found on page 4.) Voting for Judges in Texas . .4 Guide to help each voter cast an informed vote. Inside you will find information No portion of this Voters Guide may be reproduced for use in political campaigns about the voting process, the duties and responsibilities of the offices that are Early Voting Locations / Schedule . .12 or advertising. Other proposed uses are permitted only with advance written included in this election, the names of candidates and their responses to authorization of the League of Women Voters of Houston Education Fund. selected policy questions. 1 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF HOUSTON EDUCATION FUND | NOVEMBER 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 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 12, 2018 to cure their ballot by bringing • Valid Voter Registration Certificate • Copy of or original current Utility Bill acceptable form of 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) EXEMPTIONS: 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. 2 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF HOUSTON EDUCATION FUND | NOVEMBER 6, 2018 VOTERS GUIDE | WWW.LWVHOUSTON.ORG HELPFUL INFORMATION FOR ALL VOTERS Where do I vote? What if I need assistance or have physical limitations that must be accommodated? During the Early Voting Period; Monday, October 22, 2018 through Friday, November 2, 2018; you Voters with special needs will be accommodated at all polling places. No medical explanation is may vote at any of the designated Early Voting Locations. Go to page 68 for a list of these locations. necessary and no proof of illness or disability is required. Voters may be assisted by any person of They are posted online at www.harrisvotes.com or you can call 713-755-6965. their choice as they cast their ballots. However, a voter may not be assisted by his employer or his On Election Day, Tuesday, November 6, 2018 you must vote in the polling location designated for employer’s agent, or an agent of his union.