The November general election will take place on Tuesday, November 6, 2012. Voters did not have to vote in the May 29, 2012 primary election in order to qualify to vote in the general election on November 6, 2012. Whether you voted or not in the primary, you may vote for whomever you choose in November. Eligible Texans who are not registered to vote must register by October 9, 2012 to vote in the November 6, 2012 election.

The deadline to register and be eligible to vote in the November 6, 2012 General Election is October 9, 2012. This can be either the postmark date or the date the application is received in the office of the voter registrar. You may, of course, register at any time before that date to ensure that your registration is effective for voting in November. You can obtain a voter registration application from your voter registrar’s office, libraries, most post offices, high schools, or from www.votetexas.gov.

In Calhoun County register with: Elections Administrator Dora Garcia; 211 S. Ann St. Port Lavaca 77979 ; (361) 553-4440 Phone.

Some Questions Answered:

Q. I don’t remember seeing my voter registration certificate lately. Is that a problem? Don’t I just stay registered?

A. New certificates are mailed out every two years to the most recent address you gave to the voter registrar. If you do not recall receiving a new yellow and white certificate in 2012, it could mean that you have moved without updating, or there is some other problem with your registration. If the certificate was mailed to an old address, it was returned to the registrar, and you were placed on the “suspense list” in that county. This means you have a grace period that allows you to vote in the same county in your old precinct, but If you do not vote, your name will be removed from the rolls after two federal elections have passed since you were placed on the suspense list. If you did not receive your certificate because you moved to a new Texas county, you will need to re-register.

Q. I am registered to vote, but I moved this past year. Is there anything I need to do to make sure that I won’t have a problem voting in November?

A. If you moved within the same county where you are currently registered, you must file the new address information in writing with your voter registrar OR you may submit the “in county” change online. The last day to make a change of address that will be effective for the November 6, 2012 Election is October 9, 2012. If you missed this moved to a “new county,” you must re-register in your new county of residence by October 9, 2012, to be eligible to vote in the November 6, 2012 Election.

Q. If I send my registration by the deadline, what happens next?

A. Your voter registration becomes effective 30 days after it is submitted (and accepted*) by the county voter registrar. The county office will then put your name on the voter registration list, generate your voter certificate and mail it to you. Once received, be sure to read the information on the back of the certificate, sign by the X on the “front” of the card (the yellow area) and keep your voter card in a safe place. This is what you will take with you to the polls to vote. Note that as long as your name is on the voter list, you may vote without presenting this certificate, but you must provide another form of identification. See discussion below under “Voting without a Certificate.” *If your original application is missing required information, you will receive a notice in the mail and have a deadline to respond to the notice.

Q. I can’t find my voter certificate/card. Will I be able to vote without it?

A. If you are a registered voter and you have lost or misplaced your voter certificate, you may vote without your certificate by providing some form of identification (see list below) and signing an affidavit at the polls. This is the procedure to follow if your voter registration is still current and your name appears on the voter rolls in your county of residence. You may also contact your county voter registrar to obtain a replacement certificate. Addresses and phone numbers of Voter Registrars Acceptable documents are:

1. a driver’s license or personal identification card issued to you by the Department of Public Safety or a similar document issued to you by an agency of another state, regardless of whether the license or card has expired;

2. a form of identification containing your photograph that establishes your identity;

3. a birth certificate or other document confirming birth that is admissible in a court of law and establishes your identity;

4. United States citizenship papers issued to you;

5. a United States passport issued to you;

6. official mail addressed to you, by name, from a governmental entity;

7. a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and address.

Q. How can I be sure that I’m still on the voter rolls in the county where I reside?

A. You can check the status of your voter registration by using the www.votetexas.gov search site, where you will select one of three methods for conducting your search. You can base your search on: 1. your Voter Unique Identifier (VUID), which appears on your voter registration certificate; 2. your Texas driver’s license number, if you provided it when you applied for voter registration; or 3. your first and last name. Or, you can call the voter registrar’s office in the county where you reside. To find the number, review the list of County Voter Registration Officials.

New to the area, and don’t know where to vote?
Find your polling place by calling:
Elections Administrator Dora Garcia
(361) 553-4440