(Sept. 20, 2018) — Midterm elections are right around the corner and it’s time to get engaged. Civically engaged, that is!
Voters across Texas will be deciding on races for seats in the House of Representatives and Senate along with Governor, Lt. Governor, Comptroller, State Land Commissioner, State Agriculture Commissioner and State Railroad Commissioner. Bexar County elections include County Commissioner, District Attorney, District Clerk, County Clerk and County Judge.
During the 2014 midterm elections, out of the 26,841 UTSA students eligible to vote, 19,769 (73%) registered to vote and 4,103 (20.8%) voted with 59 percent voting during early voting and nearly 40 percent voting on election day. Students aged 50+ years voted at a rate of 49.7 percent compared to a rate of 10.5 percent by 18-21 year old students. *
The UTSA Center for Civic Engagement strives to work together with students and campus partners to increase those numbers and encourages all students, faculty and staff to vote. The deadline to register to vote in Bexar County is Oct. 9.
For those interested in leading the effort in registering people to vote can become a Deputized Registrar. Students, faculty and staff can receive training from a Bexar County election official on Thursday, Sept. 20 from 1:30 – 2:30 pm in the Buena Vista Street Building (BVB 3.304) on the UTSA Downtown Campus.
Tuesday, Sept. 25 is National Voter Registration Day. Representatives from the Center for Civic Engagement and partnering UTSA student organizations will be registering students around the Main and Downtown Campuses. Participants are encouraged to tag their event using the hashtag #ROWDYVOTES.
The Center for Civic Engagement strongly encourages students, faculty, staff and the community to make their voices heard by casting their vote at UTSA during early voting Oct. 22 – Nov. 2 in the H-E-B Student Union Bexar Room (HSU 1.102) on the Main Campus. The university will be celebrating the start of early voting with a #ROWDYVOTES Voter Kick-off at 8 a.m. on Monday, October 22 on the west side of the H-E-B Student Union. The Downtown Campus community can vote early at the Bexar County Elections Office located at 1103 S. Frio St, a short 13-minute walk from campus.
Early voting times at UTSA:
Monday, Oct. 22 – Friday, Oct. 26
8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 27
8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 28
12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 29 – Friday, Nov. 2
8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Voters should be prepared to show a valid photo ID or secondary supporting ID.
Deaf and hard of hearing voters can vote using Deaflink Technology during the early voting period at the Bexar County Election Department located at 1103 S. Frio St.
