Why Should I Vote?
Every school district has a local school board that sets district policies and works with the superintendent. Texas gives a lot of power to local boards to set goals and priorities for students, adopt policies, hire and evaluate the superintendent, adopt a budget, and set local tax rates. A school board has 7 or 9 trustees depending on the district. Every board trustee is elected — and many Texans will be able to vote for your local trustees this spring.
School boards have power over all the issues you care about. You have a local board of trustees who represent you—who work for you. That means students and families have power to make change on everything from racial justice to health to gun violence prevention and more.
How Your Local School District Affects…
From the Rio Grande Valley to the Panhandle to the Texas Triangle, we all want our students to have the resources they need to thrive. When we come together as Texans, our school boards can fund the resources that all of our students deserve, like counselors, librarians, and specialized classes.
Local school boards set policies and district goals. School board members can force your teachers and librarians to ban books and censor your curriculum – or they can work with students, families, and teachers to protect your freedom to read.
In 2020, following protests for Black lives, many students and families across Texas spoke up for racial equity in their school districts. Supportive school board members can create racial equity plans to ensure that all students have a safe and just learning environment.
Some school districts have recently attacked LGBTQIA+ students, harming students’ physical and mental health. School board trustees can seriously respond to students’ mental health needs by hiring counselors, implementing mental health programs, and listening to students and families.
All Texas districts must make emergency operations and behavioral threat assessment plans. Districts can fund violence prevention, educate parents about safe storage of firearms, and cease active shooter drills that traumatize students instead of addressing gun violence.
School board members make decisions about police in schools and disciplinary actions that disproportionately harm Black and disabled students without increasing safety.
School is a place where young Texans can learn how to speak up and make change in their communities. Districts can prepare students for lifelong engagement by promoting voter registration, partnering with external civic programs, and even by organizing student advisory panels where students work directly with board trustees to influence decisions.
Funding Our Education
Everyone deserves resources for a quality education. Many elected officials determine the school budget: The Texas Legislature writes the statewide budget, which the Governor signs. Your school board is mostly funded by this state budget, with some additional money from the federal government and local property taxes. Your district school board must propose a new budget every summer based on this funding. They hold hearings during this process — another opportunity to speak up for the resources you need!
The costs of educating students has grown steadily over the past several years because of inflation and the continuing effects of the pandemic. Led by Governor Abbott, some state lawmakers have refused to approve school funding unless they can also pass a voucher bill. Vouchers send public money to private schools that are unaccountable to the public, can discriminate against students based on their identities, and typically serve richer families. When the school voucher bill failed, Governor Abbott and his anti-education cronies held hostage billions of dollars in public school funding and teacher pay raises. Some politicians’ decision to defund our public schools have already harmed students in Spring Branch, Keller, and elsewhere.
Your Local Voter Toolkit
Find a Polling Place
Registered and eligible voters may vote at ANY early voting location located in the county of residence. Whether you are at home, work, or out running errands, you will be able to find a polling place near you.
To find a polling place: Visit My Voter Page two days prior to the first day of early voting. Polling place hours vary at each early voting site.
In some counties, like Travis & Harris County, you can vote at any polling place in the county on Election Day!
In other counties, you will need to go to your assigned voting location. Visit My Voter Page to find your assigned polling place. Polling place hours vary at each early voting location.
For questions regarding polling places, you can always consult your County Elections Office.
Know Your Ballot
Before you go to your polling place, make sure that the school board members you vote for align with your values. Important school board races will be happening in districts across Texas. Find a partial list here. This list is not comprehensive. If you don’t see your local district, you can check your local ballot here.
You can find more information about your local school board races through vote411.org, your local League of Women Voters, your local newspapers, and candidate websites or social media platforms.
Know Your Voter Rights
Every eligible Texan has the right to vote and be part of making decisions for our communities. We’ve compiled information about your voting rights here, with directions on where to go if you need to know more.
Employers must grant employees paid leave to vote on Election Day, unless polls are open two hours before or after your regular working shift.
You have the right to vote whether you have a disability or not, as long as you are registered to vote in Texas. This section covers some of the accommodations available to people with disabilities. Find more helpful voter resources from Disability Rights Texas here.
CURBSIDE VOTING:
If a voter is physically unable to enter the polling place, they may ask that an election officer bring a ballot to the entrance of the polling place or to a car parked at the curbside. After the voter marks the ballot, they will give it to the election officer, who will put it in the ballot box. Or, at the voter’s request, a companion may hand the voter a ballot and deposit it for them.
Anyone who assists a voter must provide their relationship to the voter and address and sign an oath that they didn’t receive compensation.
VISUAL DISABILITIES:
Under Help America Vote Act (HAVA), all Texas counties must provide one direct electronic voting machine (DRE) at each polling place for use by voters with visual disabilities, so they may cast their ballot without assistance. These machines are equipped with headphones and a keypad.
An interpreter may be used if you and the election official cannot speak the same language. The interpreter must be a registered voter of the county, must take the oath of assistance and may interpret for any number of voters.
