Vote Early!
The upcoming midterms are, without a doubt, the most important elections in my lifetime. Our democracy is threatened like never before, and it will take all of us making our voices heard to preserve it. The best strategy is to vote early. It’s vital that you check your state’s voting requirements and early voting dates to ensure you are registered and prepared to cast your vote. In Texas, early voting is October 19 – 30, and polls are open 7 am to 7 pm.
Maybe I’m a pessimist, but I also recommend being aware of potential shenanigans at the polls. While rumors have been floated about ICE or other armed officers appearing at the polls to intimidate voters, I hope that’s nothing more than rumor. On the other hand, there is no doubt there are multiple efforts underway to suppress eligible voters. It pays to be aware of and guard against potential conflicts, confiscated ballots, and frivolous charges of fraud.
Just this week, in Texas, the Texas Tribune reported that the Department of Public Safety, which forwards voter registration applications to county election offices has failed to do so for about a year. Tens of thousands of applications have not been verified or entered into the system. There’s been no word yet on what the problem was, but there has been an outcry to resolve the issue and get those applications processed by October 5, the last day to register in Texas before the November 3 election. Needless to say, elections offices are inundated with applications.
It’s important for voters to check their registration in their county’s database. Not just once, but perhaps weekly until polls open. If you’ve changed address, your account may be suspended until you notify the elections office and present verification of your new address. In Texas, that proof will allow your registration to be immediately made active. You may also be allowed to complete a provisional ballot at the poll, but due to the DPS errors, county election officials are already overwhelmed, and it could take some time to sort out. Best to be prepared well in advance.
There are many benefits to voting early, not the least of which is the lower stress of voting on a fairly low volume voting day. Here are several other reasons:
Avoids Election Day problems
Sidesteps long lines and crowded polling places on the single busiest day
Removes the risk that a last-minute emergency, illness, work conflict, or bad weather keeps you from voting
Gives you a buffer if something goes wrong — a registration issue, a problem with your ID, a provisional ballot — since you still have time to fix it before the deadline
More time and less pressure to vote well
You can research candidates and ballot measures (often long, especially down-ballot races and local measures) without rushing
Less likely to skip unfamiliar races just because you’re trying to move the line along
Flexibility
Early voting periods usually span days or weeks, so you can pick a lower-traffic time
Useful for people with inflexible work schedules, caregiving duties, disabilities, or travel plans that would make Election Day itself difficult
Practical/civic side effects
Shorter lines for everyone else on Election Day, since turnout is spread out
Gives election officials and campaigns clearer, earlier signals about turnout, which can shape late-stage campaign strategy and media coverage
If your ballot has an error (signature mismatch, missing info), early voting — especially by mail — often leaves time to “cure” it before the deadline, which isn’t possible if you vote on Election Day itself
BOTTOM LINE – CHECK YOUR STATE’S EARLY VOTING DATES. VOTING EARLY IS THE BEST STRATEGY!