The 2020 election is shaping up to be one of the most challenging to execute in our nation's history. The coronavirus pandemic is still wreaking havoc throughout the country, forcing election officials to rethink many of their normal protocols. Here in Texas, unlike in many other states, expanded mail-in voting — which would help to alleviate some of the concerns of in-person voting — has not been allowed. Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir (MPAff '81; @TravisCoClerk) and Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins (@cghollins) joined us to talk about the challenges they have faced in preparing for a safe 2020 election and the creative ways they are working to protect their constituents' right to vote. LBJ School Assistant Dean for Civic Engagement Victoria DeFrancesco Soto moderated the conversation.
Voting Resources
Travis County
- Travis County Elections Division — Learn about the new voting system that utilizes both electronic voting and provides a paper trail. Watch the video and vote with confidence.
- Travis County Elections Division — Spanish language version. Vea el video.
- Vote Travis — Register to vote, sign up to be a poll worker, submit a request to host a vote center and more resources from the Travis County Tax Office Voter Registration Division and the Travis County Clerk Elections Division.
Harris County
- Harris County Clerk's Office — Elections Division — Learn about the initiatives to ensure safe, secure, accessible, fair and efficient elections, update your registration, look at the countywide precinct map and view a sample ballot. Watch a video about voting early.
- Harris County Clerk's Office — Elections Division — Spanish language version.
- Voting by Mail in Harris County — An FAQ from Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins.
- Find polling locations and voting wait times in Harris County.
Additional Information
- Vote411.org — Up-to-date information on deadlines, what you need to vote, and other important information for all 50 states, by the League of Women Voters Education Fund.
- VoteTexas.gov is the official site for voting information for Texans, including what's on your ballot.
- Visit MoveTexas.org to register or update your registration, and find opportunities to help get out the vote and protect the vote.
- Sign up for alerts at TurboVote.org.
- PowerthePolls.org has information about becoming a poll worker.
- VotoLatino.org is a hub for information designed to empower and unite the LatinX community.
- Text this information to five friends and encourage them to register, stay on top of deadlines and cast their ballots. Outside Texas, use Vote.org.