Dec. 16th Austin Runoff Voter’s Guide

HOW TO VOTE IN AUSTIN

  • How do I make sure I vote Steve Adler for Mayor on my ballot?
    • Compared to the ballot for the November 4 election, the runoff ballot is far shorter.  This ballot will only present choices for Austin Community College Board Trustee, City of Austin Mayor, City Council Districts 1,3,4,6,7,8,10, and the Austin Independent School District Board Trustee.  This will make a maximum of four boxes to select for each voter.  The Mayor’s race should be the second box where you can place  your vote for Steve Adler.
  • Important Dates for Special Runoff Election
  • First day of early voting in person: Monday, December 1, 2014
  • Last day to apply for ballot by mail (received, not postmarked): Friday, December 5, 2014
  • Last day of early voting in person: (Friday, December 12, 2014)
  • Election day: Tuesday, December 16, 2014
  • View Printable Version
  • Where are the polling locations?
  • Is Voter ID in effect? What do I need to show when I am at a polling location so I may vote?
    • Voter ID is in effect for this election.
      • A voter will be required to show one of the following forms of photo identification at the polling location before the voter will be permitted to cast a vote:
        • Texas driver license issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
        • Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS
        • Texas personal identification card issued by DPS
        • Texas concealed handgun license issued by DPS
        • United States military identification card containing the person’s photograph
        • United States citizenship certificate containing the person’s photograph
        • United States passport
        • With the exception of the U.S. citizenship certificate, the identification must be current or have expired no more than 60 days before being presented at the polling place.
        • Election identification certificates (EIC) are now available only for voters who do not already have a required form of photo identification. There is no fee for the certificate.
        • The following are drivers license locations where you can obtain your EIC.
          • Austin-North Lamar Office, 6121 North Lamar Blvd., Austin, TX 78752, 512-424-2076 – Open M-Th 7:30-6pm, F 7:30-5pm
          • Austin-Pflugerville Mega Center, 216 E. Wells Branch Parkway, Pflugerville, TX 78660, 512-486-2800 – Open M-F 8am-5pm
          • Austin-South Office, 6425 South IH-35 #180, Austin, TX 78744, 512-444-5241 – Open M 8am-5pm, Tu 8am-6pm, W-F 8am-5pm
          • Austin-Northwest Office, 13730 Research Blvd., Austin, TX 78750, 512-506-2835 – Open M 8am-5pm, Tu 8am-6pm, W-F 8am-5pm
    • Click here for Frequently Asked Questions 
  • Can I vote at any polling location during early voting December 1-12 and election day December 16?
    • Yes and no. You can vote at any polling location, but only within the County you are registered to vote. To find out what County you are in, CLICK HERE.
  • How do I find out what early voting polling locations and election day polling locations are closest to the address I am registered at?
    • For Travis County:
      • Go to this website, enter your information, and click on the “look me up” button: http://www.votetravis.com
      • Then, scroll down, you will see the 5 closest early voting locations to you. If you want to find the 5 election day locations closest to you, click on the “Election Day Voting” tab.
    • For Williamson County:
      • Go to this website, enter your information, and click on the “Search” button: http://apps.wilco.org/elections
      • After you click the “Search” button, a list of matching names will appear below. Click on your name to view your voter information.
      • From here, you have three options for your “Nearest Polling Place:”
        • “From your home (based on the address we have on file)”
        • “From current location (GPS must be enabled)”
        • Enter an address for a custom location.
  • I am not sure if I can vote for Steve Adler in the Austin Mayor’s Race. How do I find out?
    • If you live in an Austin City Council District and if you are registered to vote in Austin at that address, then you can vote for Steve Adler for Mayor. Some voters live in Austin’s Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ). Voters in the ETJ are not in an Austin City Council District and they cannot vote for Mayor.
  • How do I know if I live in an Austin City Council District so I can vote Steve Adler for Mayor?
  • If I am not sure if I am I registered to vote, how do I find out? And since voter registration and elections are done by County, how do I find out what County I live in?
  • Am I eligible to vote by mail, and if I am eligible, how do I apply?
    • Here are the requirements to vote by mail:
      • 65 years of age or older
      • Out of the county during the entire election period
      • Sick or disabled
      • Confined in jail, but eligible to vote
    • If you meet one of these requirements, you can:
      • print an application to vote by mail
        • Travis County Vote by Mail Application
          • Fill out the application (don’t forget to check the “Any resulting runoff” in 6a or 6b so you can automatically get a ballot for the December 16th runoff election, if there is one)
          • Put a stamp and place the application in the mail
          • Or fax the application to (512) 854-3969√
        • Williamson County Vote by Mail Application (make sure you put in the outgoing address of Early Voting Clerk, PO Box 209, Georgetown, TX 78627)
          • Fill out the application (don’t forget to check the “Any resulting runoff” in 6a or 6b so you can automatically get a ballot for the December 16th runoff election, if there is one)
          • Put a stamp and place the application in the mail
          • Or fax the application to (512) 943-1634
      • Counties can accept an application in person directly from the individual voter only before early voting begins (December 1).
        • Travis County: 5501 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78751
        • Williamson County: 301 SE Inner Loop Ste 104, Georgetown, TX 78626
    • Last day to apply for ballot by mail (received, not postmarked): Friday, December 5, 2014
      • There are additional possibilities for Military and Overseas Citizens. See the Military and Overseas Citizens question further down this FAQ for more info.
    • The Counties must receive your marked ballot by 7:00 pm on election day. However, If you are mailing your ballot from outside the United States, we must receive your ballot by the fifth day after election day.
  • How do I get my sample ballot?
  • How do I use electronic ballot?
    • Travis and Williamson County use different electronic voting machines. Here are the instructional videos for both machines:
  • Are there any provisions for Senior Voters and Voters with special needs?
    • There are many provisions to ensure that Seniors and Voters with Special Needs can vote:
      • electronic system accessibility
      • location accessibility
      • location assistance
      • use of an interpreter
      • curbside voting
    • For more information on what the provisions entail, please visit: Voters with Special Needs
  • What if I am Military or an Overseas Citizens?
    • For the runoff election, military and overseas citizens must use the Ballot by Mail option.  The Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) is only applicable to elections where there is a federal race, meaning that the December 16th runoff ballot would not be automatically mailed.  Therefore, military and overseas citizens should use the regular ballot by mail procedures.
    • Click here for more info on Ballot by Mail and download your Ballot by Mail Application
    • Last day to apply for ballot by mail (received, not postmarked): Friday, December 5, 2014
  • This FAQ is long and confusing. I still have questions: