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Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday set a particular election to fill former U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee’s seat for the rest of the time period on Nov. 5, the identical day as the final election.
The particular election will choose an official to symbolize Texas’ 18th Congressional District for the 2 months remaining within the Congress after the election.
The final election, however, will decide who represents the district for the total two-year time period starting in 2025. Houston-area voters will determine on each on the identical time.
Early voting for each the particular and normal elections will start concurrently on Oct. 21.
Jackson Lee died on July 19 whereas battling pancreatic most cancers. She was 74. The Houston Democrat was one of many longest serving members of Texas’ congressional delegation, often known as a staunch progressive.
As a result of Jackson Lee had gained the Democratic main in March, Democrats should choose a brand new candidate to seem on the final election poll. The 88 Democratic precinct chairs in Jackson Lee’s district will vote on the alternative nominee on Aug. 13.
Candidates for the full-term nomination embrace former Houston Metropolis Council member Amanda Edwards, state Rep. Jarvis Johnson, D-Houston, Houston Metropolis Council member Letitia Plummer and former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner.
In the meantime, any eligible Texan might file with the Secretary of State by Aug. 22 to position their identify on the particular election poll — aside from the full-term nominee Democrats choose in August and Lana Centonze, the Republican working for the seat. These candidates can’t seem on the identical poll twice.
Mike Doyle, chair of the Harris County Democrats, referred to as the particular election “an attempt to confuse and create havoc in voting in November.”
Abbott was not required to set a particular election to fill the seat for 2 months, Doyle mentioned, and doing so implies that voters will see two ballots for a similar workplace.
“This is gamesmanship — nothing more, nothing less,” he mentioned.
Abbott’s workplace didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Voting FAQ: 2024 Elections
When is the following election? What dates do I must know?
Election Day for the final election is November 5, and early voting will run from Oct. 21 to Nov. 1. The deadline to register to vote and/or change your voter registration tackle is Oct. 7. Purposes to vote by mail have to be obtained by your county of residence – not postmarked – by Oct. 25.
What’s on the poll for the final election?
Along with the president, eligible Texans have the chance to forged their ballots for a lot of Texas officers working for workplace on the federal, state and native ranges.
This contains representatives within the U.S. and Texas homes and the next elected workplaces:
-1 U.S Senator (Ted Cruz)
– 1 of three Railroad Commissioners
– 15 State Senators
– 7 State Board of Schooling members
– 3 members of the Texas Supreme Court docket
– 3 members of the Texas Court docket of Prison Appeals
– 5 Chief Justices and varied justices for Texas Courts of Appeals
– Decrease-level judges and native county workplaces may also seem on the poll:
– Varied district judges, together with on felony and household courts
– County Courts at Regulation
– Justices of the Peace
– District Attorneys
– County Attorneys
– Sheriffs
– Constables
– Tax Assessor-Collectors
How do I be sure I’m registered to vote?
You may verify to see should you’re registered and confirm your info via the Texas Secretary of State’s web site. You’ll want one of many following three mixtures to log in:
Your Texas driver’s license quantity and date of start.
Your first and final names, date of start and county you reside in.
Your date of start and Voter Distinctive Identifier, which seems in your voter registration certificates.
How do I register to vote if I haven’t?
You may request a postage-paid utility via the mail or discover one at county voter registrars’ workplaces and a few submit workplaces, authorities workplaces, or excessive colleges. You may as well print out the web utility and mail it to the voter registrar in your county.
Purposes have to be postmarked by the Oct. 7 deadline. Obtain your utility right here.
Moreover, you’ll be able to register to vote via the Texas Division of Public Security whereas renewing your driver’s license. You could possibly register to vote on-line should you’re additionally allowed to resume your license on-line. That is the one type of on-line registration within the state.
After you register to vote, you’ll obtain a voter registration certificates inside 30 days. It’ll include your voter info, together with the Voter Distinctive Identifier quantity wanted to replace your voter registration on-line. If the certificates has incorrect info, you’ll want to notice corrections and ship it to your native voter registrar as quickly as potential.
The voter registration certificates can be used as a secondary type of ID whenever you vote should you don’t have one of many seven state-approved picture IDs
The complete program is now LIVE for the 2024 Texas Tribune Pageant, occurring Sept. 5–7 in downtown Austin. Discover this system that includes greater than 100 unforgettable conversations on subjects overlaying training, the financial system, Texas and nationwide politics, felony justice, the border, the 2024 elections and a lot extra. See the total program.
