Civic Notes: February 18th
A new VDR year, a legislative update, and a member spotlight
Welcome back, Longhorns! We hope you’re having a great spring the semester!
We had an incredible semester leading up to the presidential election, TX Votes helped register over 3,000 UT students—an amazing accomplishment! But just because the presidential election is over doesn’t mean the elections in between are any less important. Travis County’s next election is coming up on Saturday, May 3, 2025. This election will decide key local positions, like school board seats. More details, such as the offices and measures up for a vote, will be provided by the Travis County Clerk’s Office as the date approaches.
TX Votes Recap
🔹 New Volunteer Deputy Registrar (VDR) Year!
Did you know that every even-numbered year, all VDRs in Texas must renew their certification? TX Votes kicked off the new year by focusing its first meeting on helping members renew their training and certification.
🔹 NSLVE Campus Report Update
TX Votes recently reviewed the latest National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement (NSLVE) campus report, which provides insights into student voting rates, participation, and field of study data. This is especially exciting because, for the first time, the report spans four election cycles, including the 2014, 2018, and 2022 midterms, as well as the 2020 presidential election. To access the full report, click here: UT Austin NSLVE Report.
🔹We also welcomed guest speaker Amy Stansbury, Editor-in-Chief of The Austin Common. She led an engaging discussion on key local issues such as education, voting rights, and affordable housing. Attendees gained valuable insights into the upcoming election, including the roles and responsibilities at the city and county levels and the pressing issues shaping our community.
89th Legislative Session Update
📌 With the start of the legislative session, several key bills related to voting have been filed. Below is a brief summary of four significant bills and their objectives:
SB 142 – Statewide Powers for Volunteer Deputy Registrars
This bill would expand the powers of volunteer deputy registrars (VDRs) by allowing them to register voters statewide, rather certifying in each county. VDRs appointed in any county could operate across the entire state, managing voter registration applications beyond their home county.
🔗 Full Bill Details
SB 76 – Elimination of Countywide Polling Places
This bill would eliminate the countywide polling place program, which allows voters to cast ballots at any polling location within their county. Voters would be restricted to their assigned precinct on Election Day.
Reduces the number of student election clerks at polling places from four to two.
Early voting procedures remain unchanged – voters can still cast ballots at any early voting location during the early voting period.
🔗 Full Bill Details
HB 2082 – Texas Voting Rights Act
This bill introduces several measures related to voting, including:
Online voter registration, automatic voter registration (when obtaining/renewing a driver’s license or applying for state services), and same-day registration.
Expanded vote-by-mail eligibility and the option to submit mail-in ballot applications online.
Expands the role of election officers as voter registrars.
🔗 Full Bill Details
SB 309 (with HB 1312 and HB 1670 as companion bills) – Proof of Citizenship for Voter Registration
This bill and its companions (HB 1312 and HB 1670) would require individuals to provide proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a birth certificate, passport, or naturalization documents, when registering to vote.
If implemented, Texas would need to create two separate voter registration lists — one for federal elections and another for state elections.
🔗 Full Bill Details
📌 Stay informed! Use Texas Legislature Online to track bills, sponsors, and upcoming hearings throughout the legislative session.
Member Spotlight: Eliana F. Arriaga
📌 Year: Freshman
📌 Major: Plan II & Government
📌 Hometown: San Antonio
📌 Role: New TX Votes Digital Chair!
💬 Why TX Votes?
My growing awareness of the lack of voter engagement, especially among younger students, drove me to take action. Inspired by my passion for effective government, I educated myself on the many barriers and restrictions that make voting inaccessible. In high school, I encouraged my peers to register and vote, while also becoming certified as a student Election Clerk for local elections. Coming to college, I knew I wanted to continue this work, so when I found TX Votes, I knew I had to join! I am now also an Election Judge and a Volunteer Deputy Registrar.
✨Fun Fact: I have been a classical ballet dancer since I was four!