Canvas myLAW Email Library Account
Course and Research Guides
A-Z Database List
Canvas myLAW Email Library Account
Course and Research Guides
A-Z Database List
Spring is here! You may notice nicer weather, flowers blooming, and yard signs in your neighbor’s yard.
On May 1st, many municipalities will be hosting local elections. In Tarrant County, Fort Worth voters will be able to vote for their next mayor, city council seats, and FWISD school board. In Arlington, voters will choose from mayoral and AISD school board candidates. Voters in the Mid-Cities will also have their respective local municipal elections. In Dallas County, voters will have city council candidates and city proposals on their ballots. These local elections are non-partisan.
The decisions that impact us most directly are often decided by local leaders. Who planned the local Covid vaccine roll out? Local county commissioners and public health professionals led on the ground vaccine administration. Did you hit a pothole recently? The city council approves the city budget, including monies for roads and infrastructure. Do you wonder when young students will return to school after COVID? Your local school board votes on that.
So much of our daily lives are decided by local government decisions. Yet, local election turnout is among the lowest. In Dallas County, the 2019 May elections were decided by less than ten percent of county voters. The 2019 May elections in Tarrant County were decided by a little more than eight percent of registered voters.
Every vote really counts in local elections. Below is information to help you begin preparing for the upcoming May election in Dallas and Tarrant counties.
Mark your calendars – early voting begins on Monday, April 19 and runs through Tuesday, April 27. Election Day is Saturday, May 1, 2021.
Know where to go – if you vote during early voting or on election day, you can generally vote at any voting location in your voting county. Locations may change, check your local elections county websites for updated information.
Taken an ID – Texas requires a form of identification to vote. There are seven accepted forms of ID including: 1) a TX driver’s license, 2) TX election ID certificate, 3) TX ID, 4) TX handgun license, 5) U.S. Citizenship certificate with photo, 6) U.S. Military photo ID, or 7) U.S. passport.
Insider Tip: Want to know what will be on your ballot? Look at a sample ballot. A sample ballot allows you to pull up a preview of the ballot elections and candidates that are personalized to your address. Find information for Dallas county ballots here or Tarrant county ballots here.
Not sure if you are registered to vote? Check your registration online!
Have you moved counties since you last voted or need to register to vote for the first time? April 1 was the last day to register to vote for the upcoming May election. But you can still register for future elections! In pre-Covid times, you could find voter registration forms in any library. Currently, you have a few options. Fill out the application online here, then print and mail it to your county office. (Your county office can be found here.) You can also request a form be mailed to you. You can always visit your local elections office and register in person.
Don’t forget your mask!
- Astrid Fuentes, Juris Doctor Candidate 2023
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