TX Votes' Civic Notes: April 22
Spring election update and a spotlight on STEM Junior Chair Hillary
Hey y’all! We hope that the end of the semester is going well. Today we’re sharing a semester update, info on the May 4th Travis County Election, and a profile of TX Votes member, Hillary.
Member Spotlight: Hillary Xu
Year: Sophomore
Major: Double majoring in Biology BSA and Environmental Science BS
Hometown: Austin, Texas
Position: Junior STEM chair for TX Votes. We try to get STEM students registered and out to the polls!
Why TX Votes: It’s a nonprofit organization which maximizes its goal of civic engagement for all.
Fun Fact: I fostered 18 dogs before I turned 18.
Travis Central Appraisal District (TCAD) Board May 4th Election
When can you vote?
Early Voting: Monday, April 22 - Tuesday, April 30
Election Day: Saturday, May 4
Why have I never heard about this before?
A recent change in the Texas law requires that three directors of the Travis Central Appraisal District (TCAD) Board be elected rather than appointed.
What is the Travis Central Appraisal District?
The mission of the district is to determine the value of all properties in the county. It does not set tax rates or determine property taxes.
What is the Travis Central Appraisal District Board?
The members of the board appoint the Appraisal Review Board (ARB), hire the Chief Appraiser, and set the budget for their operations.
What does the Appraisal Review Board do?
Hear out property owners who disagree about property valuations.
Certify the appraised property values in Travis County every July so that local governments can make annual tax rate decisions.
Information from the League of Women Voters - Austin
Semester Update:
The Annette Strauss Institute hosted Great Conversations, a dinner with UT faculty, 24 members of the Texas legislature, numerous TX Votes members, and others from the civic spaces around Austin.
Texas State Senator Judith Zaffirini was awarded the Shirley Bird Perry Longhorn Citizenship Award for her decades of work in the Texas lege.
Last month’s Pizza & Politics featured a primary election watch party on election night.
At our fourth general meeting, we welcomed State Senator Sarah Eckhardt! She spoke with students about her work as a Travis County Judge, her accomplishments as a Senator, and her goals in helping Texans out.
What does voter engagement look like nationwide?
by Sena Oguzman
Are you looking for more voter engagement organizations not just in Texas, but also in the U.S. as a whole? Maybe you want to work with a nationwide organization, or you just want to broaden your perspective beyond the state of Texas. Luckily, we have a few recommendations for you to start researching!
They are a nonprofit organization dedicated to registering young voters.
Their origins trace back to 1990, when music executives created Rock the Vote in response to the censorship faced by hip-hop and rap musicians. Collaborating with MTV, they launched the groundbreaking campaign “Censorship is Un-American.”
Over the past 30 years, they have registered more than 14 million Americans!
They are a nonpartisan and election reform organization based in Washington, D.C.
Undertaking a variety of initiatives, the Fair Elections Center engages in litigation, voter advocacy, student outreach, and poll worker recruitment. Particularly, they hope to address remove barriers to voting for underrepresented and marginalized communities.
The center also has voting guides for each state!
Their goal is to protect democracy through advocacy, education, and litigation across local, state, and national platforms.
Led by women, the organization rose out of the merger between the National Council of Women Voters and the National Women’s Suffrage Movement in 1920. They also launched VOTE411.org in 2006, providing comprehensive resources such as nationwide polling locations, ballot lookup tools, and information on candidate positions on key issues.
They have over 750 state and local Leagues!
These are only some of the many voter engagement organizations that exist in the U.S., but these three in particular provide valuable information. We hope that these organizations are useful resources in your voter engagement journey!
Upcoming Internships and Positions
The office of State Senator Royce West is seeking up to 12 Policy & Research Interns for the Fall 2024 Semester. Apply on Handshake here!
Political consulting firm Lilly and Company allows students an opportunity to gain direct knowledge of how a political campaigns and political committees function at all levels of government. Email your resume to pallavi@lillyandcompany.com to apply.
Smart City Policy Group is interviewing for a Public Relations/Communications paid position for our firm, $17/hour, send resume and cover letter to info@smartcitypolicygroup.com.
Check out the Texas Politics Project for more opportunities!