Christian Advocacy Committee: Voting by mail critical in 2020.
As we enter election season, Wilshire’s Christian Advocacy Committee wants to make sure all are ready and registered to vote; Oct. 5 is the registration deadline. In normal times, the committee would host a voter registration drive in James Gallery to answer questions and help update and register voters. Instead, we present the information below on how to register, how to update or confirm your registration, as well as information on early voting and mail-in ballots.
To verify your voter registration:
Visit www.votetexas.gov/register-to-vote and clink on the link at the bottom of the page that reads “Find out if you are already registered.” On the right side of the next page, click on the “Selection Criteria” dropdown menu and select how you want to verify your registration. Fill in the required info, click submit and your voter registration info will appear.
If you discover you are not registered to vote or need to update your registration:
Visit webservices.sos.state.tx.us/vrapp/index.asp. Fill out the information, print the form, sign it and mail it to the address provided.
Between new health and safety measures implemented to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and a poll-worker shortage resulting from concerns about the virus, long lines are expected on Election Day, Nov. 3, so make plans now to participate in early voting, which begins Oct. 13. Dallas County has not yet finalized early voting locations but is looking for places with plenty of free parking where voters in line can be socially distanced while inside.
Expanding the use of voting by mail is essential for a safe and fair election in 2020. You are eligible to vote by mail if you are:
• Age 65 or older
• Disabled (fear of contracting COVID-19 does NOT qualify as a disability in Texas);
• Planning to be out of the county during early voting and election day.
If you want to vote by mail, here is some information you should know:
• The deadline to request a mail-in ballot is Oct. 23. The request must be made by mail, using the form found on the www.dallascountyvotes.org website. To ensure that you receive your ballot in time, it is wise to plan ahead and request one several weeks in advance of the Oct. 23 deadline.
• If you decide to use your mail-in ballot but want to turn it in in person, you can do that at the Dallas County Elections office at 1520 Round Table Drive, Dallas, Texas 75247. THIS IS THE CORRECT ADDRESS. Only you can turn in your own mail-in ballot (ID required) and it must be within the sealed carrier envelope.
• When mailing in your ballot, remember to sign the back of the mail-in envelope. It’s best to drop it off at your local post office.
• If you receive a mail-in ballot and decide you’d rather vote in person, you must relinquish (hand in) your mail-in ballot at the polling site. If you don’t have your mail-in ballot with you, you may cast a provisional ballot, and only a provisional ballot.
Wilshire volunteers are available to drop off an application to request a mail-in ballot to your home as well as to drop off sealed and signed mail-in ballots to a local post office on your behalf. This is a lot of information and we know that you may have questions. If so, please contact Judy Ward, Christian Advocacy Committee member, at 972-743-1842.