TX Votes' Civic Notes: March 23
Thank you for your interest in civic engagement. We hope you’ll take what you learn here and spread the word to your friends and family!
Upcoming Events
[TX Votes’ Event] Navigating Engagement at the Capitol and City Hall: April 9th 6-7 PM on Zoom
Opportunities
Rock the Vote Remote Summer Internship
APIAVote (Asian and Pacific Islander American) Internship
May 2021 Special Election
We have a special election on May 1st! Here are the ballot propositions that will be voted on.
This is a voting guide made by the LBJ Graduate Public Affairs Council. Use this guide to check if you’re registered to vote, apply for an absentee ballot (if you’re eligible), and learn more about the ballot propositions that will be voted on in this special election!
This is the timeline for the special election:
Thursday, April 1, 2021 - Last Day to Register to Vote
Tuesday, April 20, 2021 - Last Day for County to Receive Absentee Ballot Application (RECEIVED, not Postmarked)
Monday, April 19, 2021 - First Day of Early Voting
Tuesday, April 27, 2021 - Last Day of Early Voting
Saturday, May 1, 2021 - Election Day
Saturday, May 1, 2021 - Last Day for County to Receive Ballot by Mail (by 7 pm)
Serving as a Nonpartisan Resource
This article focuses on how to be a nonpartisan resource to your friends and family and how to encourage them to be civically engaged while maintaining nonpartisanship.
By Michelle Zachary
The United States was founded on a principle of the people’s choice. It is crucial to the protection of this ideal that the people exercise their choice through the process of voting. However the voter turnout rate of people voting age is just barely above 50%. It may seem near impossible for you, an individual, to be able to raise the percentage. However, by being a nonpartisan resource you can provide the public with the necessary information to help mobilize them for upcoming elections.
What is nonpartisanship?
Nonpartisanship is the act of presenting political information without influence from either political party. It provides accurate information that is not skewed by political ideology.
Resources to avoid as a nonpartisan resources:
Left leaning resources: CNN and New York Times
Right leaning resources: Fox and Drudge Report
Resources to utilize as a nonpartisan resource:
How to to serve as a nonpartisan resource
Ensure that the information you are providing is not sourced from a politically affiliated organization. Research the resources you use and provide people information without political influence. A few topics you may discuss are locations of polling stations, transportation resources, candidates on the ballot and where their policy decisions can be found, etc. If someone asks you a question that you are unable to answer without being partisan, redirect them to other resources. Reach out to all potential voters regardless of political alignment and assist them in locating the information they need in order to vote.
Democracy only functions when we all participate! Being a nonpartisan resource is a great way to encourage greater civic engagement in your community!
TX Lege Resources
Austin Tech Alliance’s #TXLegeMondays Series: Instagram, Twitter
Interesting Articles
Here are some interesting articles and news stories we found over the last two weeks! TX Votes is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to providing voting and civic engagement information, and our only goal with this section of our newsletter is to share a few interesting articles and news about Texas and its politics! We encourage you to read multiple sources and a variety of viewpoints to ensure you are well informed.
Getting coronavirus vaccine in Texas difficult for many who are eligible
Dan Patrick pushes Greg Abbott on repricing Texas electricity
Texas higher education bills may take a backseat to COVID-19
40 for Forty
40 for Forty is happening on March 30th and 31st. This is TX Votes’ biggest fundraising event of the year! Please consider checking out our page and donating on March 30-31st. There are fun challenges and price matching activities planned! Keep up to date on our social media platforms (linked below) during 40 for Forty to support us! Thank you!
Visit our website at tx-votes.com.
Check out our social media: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube
If you would like to support TX Votes and the civic engagement work we do, you can donate here! Thank you!