Hey everybody! You might have seen my note/update in CTLiberal's diary concerning your "ticket" to get into the Precinct Convention (the official name for Texas' caucuses). I wanted to write a separate diary about what to do if you want to vote early AND caucus on Election Day.
EARLY VOTING IN TX STARTS TOMORROW! YOU WILL WANT TO KNOW THIS STUFF!
Also, I want to give a quick primer on the stuff that you will need to vote.
NOTE: The information regarding pieces of Identification needed to vote may vary from county to county.
DISCLAIMER: I work for an Elections department in Central Texas.
IDENTIFICATION
In my county, a Voter Registration Certificate is obviously preferable. Make sure that it is stamped with a "DEMOCRATIC" stamp.
Otherwise, In order to be processed and allowed to vote, you can use any form of government-issued ID, such as a
Driver's license
Military ID
Passport/Other citizenship documents
Student ID
Social Security Card
Any ID that shows a Photograph of you
EVEN A UTILITY BILL OR OFFICIAL MAIL!!!! MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THIS!!
These documents will likely suffice for voting.
GOING TO THE CAUCUS/GETTING THAT CRUCIAL PARTY STAMP
Now please listen/read carefully.
YOU MUST CAUCUS IN YOUR OWN PRECINCT. Hence "Precinct Convention".
- Most election clerks will know to ask which primary you prefer to vote in, since it will determine which ballot you get (if it's electronic). However, if THEY DO NOT STAMP your Voter Registration Certificate, MAKE SURE THAT THEY DO. A STAMPED VOTER REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE IS A VALID ENTRY TICKET INTO THE PRECINCT CONVENTION.
- If you have a Driver's License or anything other than a Voter Registration Certificate, MAKE SURE THAT THE CLERK FILLS OUT A PARTY AFFILIATION CERTIFICATE THAT IS STAMPED DEMOCRATIC.
- HOLD ONTO THIS CERTIFICATE AS EFFECTIVELY AS YOU CAN. THAT CARD IS YOUR ENTRY TICKET INTO THE CAUCUS. I have NO IDEA how you can get in without it, especially if you early vote. Most early voting does not take place in a person's precinct. Just be aware of this.
- ON ELECTION DAY, go to your precinct. At the Early Voting location, they will tell you where your precinct is. Even better, if you have a Voter Registration Certificate, it will list your 3 digit precinct on the card itself.
- Be PROUD that you mastered this bizarre clusterf*** of an election system.
Thanks everybody! If we stay attentive to what we need to do to fully participate in the Texas Primary and Caucus, it will be fantastic!
UPDATE 3: KTinTX points out:
You don't have to have the card (2+ / 0-)
Each precinct will have a physical roll of all of that precincts' voters. On election day, it come pre-printed with everyone who voted early. Throughout the day, they stamp those that vote on election day at that precinct in the book. This book (there are two, one to leave, one to take back to the county) will be available for whomever runs the precinct caucus. The reason it is kept, is to verify that the person voted and to look up the voter registration number which needs to be written down on the sign in sheet.
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by KTinTX on Mon Feb 18, 2008 at 07:52:15 PM EST
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UPDATE: I really want to make it clear that RECOMMENDING WILL HELP GET THIS INFO OUT THERE. I ONLY GET ONE DIARY A DAY....
UPDATE 2: MADE IT to the rec. list. The more folks who know this stuff, the better!