A Texan Feminist's Guide To First-Time Voting
Mural created by Nathan "SLOKE" Nordstrom as part of the Austin Common’s collaboration with the HOPE Campaign.
Election Day is less than a month away—and on November 3, the future of our country will quite literally be in our collective hands.
Although we can’t tell you how to vote, we can help you stay informed, involved and properly prepped for the polls.
So, in order to make sure our voices get heard (and our votes get counted), we've pulled together three of the most reputable and credible voter education resources in our network. If you have yet to craft your November 3 voting plan, read up!
the three foundations for a solid voting plan:
1.) Figure out when and where you’re voting on November 3.
Once you’re registered to vote (you can check your registration status here), you’ll want to figure out your day-of voting plan. Which poll booth is nearest your home? Or workplace? Are you prepared to vote in a way that’s COVID-safe? How much time do you need to set aside in your schedule to vote?
You can start making your plan for Election Day by entering your address here. Also, if you’re busy on November 3 or can’t make it physically to the polls, we recommend learning about early and absentee voting options (click here to see what your state allows).
2.) Fill out your ballot in confidence. The League of Women Voters can help you determine which candidates to vote for.
There are quite a few races for this election (you’ll be voting for more than the presidency), so it’s important to know who’s who on the ballot—and which issues matter most to you.
You won’t be able to bring your phone into the voting booth with you, either, so we recommend setting aside time to create your ballot cheat sheet. On The League of Women Voters’ website (which is available in both English and Spanish), you can find non-partisan election information, candidate statements, as well as a personalized sample ballot based on your address to help you get started.
In Texas, voter guide translations of State and Federal elections will be made available in English, Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese, with online versions of the Chinese and Vietnamese translations becoming available online this Friday, October 16. If you live in Travis, Williamson or Harris County, the state will be offering language translations of local city and county races, too.
If you live in the Austin area, you can pick up a free copy of their Voters Guide featured in the October 16 issue of the Austin Chronicle.
Never heard of The League of Women Voters? They encourage informed and active participation in government, work to increase understanding of major public policy issues and influence public policy through education and advocacy. You can learn more here.
You can also follow the steps in this series of graphics from our friends at missfits fest:
Graphics designed by Ivy Phan for missfits productions’ #FreshOffTheVoteTX campaign.
3.) Do more than vote. Stay involved at the local level. If you’re in Austin, we recommend The Austin Common.
Beyond voting, there are many ways for you to show up for the issues and causes that matter to you most. No matter what form of activism resonates with you, we recommend finding your long-game strategy. If you’re not sure where to begin, you can start by staying informed, not overwhelmed.
In Austin, we recommend keeping up with The Austin Common. As a nonpartisan news site, they regularly publish coverage surrounding civic engagement and sustainability. They’re also well-known for their easy-to-understand, how-to graphics.
For example, here’s their latest on HOW TO VOTE by mail in Texas.
Above graphics designed by Kourtney Elaine for The Austin Common.
YOU NOW HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO create a VOTING PLAN. SEE YOU ON NOVEMBER 3!
This blog post has been made possible in collaboration with our community partners, missfits productions and the League of Women Voters. To find out more about missfits’ #FreshOffTheVoteTX campaign (which supplied many of the graphics used within this guide), head to their campaign website.