Spring Break
County says be prepared to cast ballot
By: Teri Ruland
Issue date: 11/4/08 Section: News
More than 21,000 people took part in early voting in Brazos County, and more are expected to make a trip to the polls Tuesday, election coordinators in Brazos County said.
Voters must go to their designated precinct and should have their voter registration card and identification to vote.
Voters who have their voter registration number can look up their precinct's polling location on the Brazos votes website. Those who do not have the number can call the county clerk's office or tax assessor's office and ask where they need to go.
"It may be hard to get through to the offices, [but] the web page has a map of where their polling place is," said Brazos County election coordinator Jaime Hines.
In early voting, registered voters could go to any of the five designated locations to vote. On Election Day, voters must go to their designated precinct.
"Another good link is on the Secretary of State website. They'll have a list of polling places too. This will tell them where they're registered to vote," she said. "On Election Day, they need to go back to their home county [if they're not registered in Brazos County]."
During early voting, voters could participate in limited voting - which excludes the local races. That is not an option for Election Day voters.
"The federal government signed [the Help America Vote Act] into law in 2002 because of the presidential election in Florida," Hines said. "It's basically the last resort on keeping people at the polls without having them be turned away for registration status or anything like that."
"However, the vote may or may not be counted if the voter was negligent about finding if they were registered or didn't go back to the county where they were registered in to vote."
Some students voted, and thought it was worth the time because it gave them a voice.
"I feel like every vote counts," said Travis Taunton, a freshman general studies major. "I want to vote for who I believe in. Even if it's one vote, I'm putting in my two-cent's worth. It's your only way to have a part in our government and what's going on in the world. Whoever represents you the best, I feel like you should vote for them."
Rebe Long, a freshman education major, votes because if she didn't, she said she couldn't complain about the results.
"Somebody told me: 'People died for your right to vote; you should go vote,'" Long said. "When I was home, I went to the polls and voted as a why not kind of thing, and my roommate said basically that if you don't vote, you forfeit your right for the next four years to complain about the government, economy or they way things are run."
Hines said to remember that not everyone always had the right to cast a ballot.
"There used to be poll taxes," she said. "Women and minorities have all fought to get the right to vote. If they realized what a privilege it is, they'd think of it more."
Where to go
Websites to check registration status and voting precincts:
http://www.brazosvotes.org/
http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/index.shtml
Numbers to call to check status:
Tax Assessor's Office:
979-361-4483
County Clerk's Office:
979-361-4528
Voters must go to their designated precinct and should have their voter registration card and identification to vote.
Voters who have their voter registration number can look up their precinct's polling location on the Brazos votes website. Those who do not have the number can call the county clerk's office or tax assessor's office and ask where they need to go.
"It may be hard to get through to the offices, [but] the web page has a map of where their polling place is," said Brazos County election coordinator Jaime Hines.
In early voting, registered voters could go to any of the five designated locations to vote. On Election Day, voters must go to their designated precinct.
"Another good link is on the Secretary of State website. They'll have a list of polling places too. This will tell them where they're registered to vote," she said. "On Election Day, they need to go back to their home county [if they're not registered in Brazos County]."
During early voting, voters could participate in limited voting - which excludes the local races. That is not an option for Election Day voters.
"The federal government signed [the Help America Vote Act] into law in 2002 because of the presidential election in Florida," Hines said. "It's basically the last resort on keeping people at the polls without having them be turned away for registration status or anything like that."
"However, the vote may or may not be counted if the voter was negligent about finding if they were registered or didn't go back to the county where they were registered in to vote."
Some students voted, and thought it was worth the time because it gave them a voice.
"I feel like every vote counts," said Travis Taunton, a freshman general studies major. "I want to vote for who I believe in. Even if it's one vote, I'm putting in my two-cent's worth. It's your only way to have a part in our government and what's going on in the world. Whoever represents you the best, I feel like you should vote for them."
Rebe Long, a freshman education major, votes because if she didn't, she said she couldn't complain about the results.
"Somebody told me: 'People died for your right to vote; you should go vote,'" Long said. "When I was home, I went to the polls and voted as a why not kind of thing, and my roommate said basically that if you don't vote, you forfeit your right for the next four years to complain about the government, economy or they way things are run."
Hines said to remember that not everyone always had the right to cast a ballot.
"There used to be poll taxes," she said. "Women and minorities have all fought to get the right to vote. If they realized what a privilege it is, they'd think of it more."
Where to go
Websites to check registration status and voting precincts:
http://www.brazosvotes.org/
http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/index.shtml
Numbers to call to check status:
Tax Assessor's Office:
979-361-4483
County Clerk's Office:
979-361-4528
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