Austin, TX

Since I failed to vote early this year I voted today. I love voting in Pflugerville. There is never a line but there is generally a steady stream of voters.

As this is my first primary since moving to Texas, I had a few questions. Here are the answers, just in case you’re in the same boat.

1. Do I register by Party in Texas?

   If you are a registered voter in the state of Texas you don’t register as belonging to a party. You simply show up at the election site, choose a party affiliation and vote. Once you’ve chosen a party affiliation, you’re locked into that affiliation until the next primary. If, for example, you voted in the March 2007 primary or April 2007 runoff primary, you will then be affiliated with that party for the rest of that year, but on December 31, 2007 the affiliation would expired. I actually think that’s a fairly sensible approach.

2. Am I registered?
   You can check to see if you’re registered and find out where you can vote by visiting this site:

   http://www.traviscountytax.org/showVoterNameSearch.do

3. What’s the deal with this caucus thing?
   Texas has 228 delegates. 128 of those delegates are chosen based on the popular vote. 35 of the delegates are those super delegates we’ve all heard so much about. The last 67 are chosen by caucus. If you wish to vote in your party’s caucus you have to have voted in the primary. The caucus for the Democrats will start at 7:15 or after the last person has voted (like i said, if you are in line at 7 you’ll get to vote. So if someone gets in line at 6:59 and there is a 20 minute wait, then caucus cant start til, at earliest, 7:19. But get there at 7. The Republicans caucus at 8.
4. Does my employer have to let me off to vote?

   Employees must be permitted to take time off from work on election day for the purpose of voting. However, if the polls are open for two consecutive hours outside of the employee’s working hours, an employer is not required to give the employee leave to vote. An employee’s wages or benefits cannot be reduced because he or she took leave to vote.

   Tex. Code Ann. Election Code § 276.004

   Polls are open from 7a-7p. If you’re scheduled to work 12 hours straight, then they have to let you off to vote. If not, get your ass up early and vote.

   Caucusing is optional.

I do find it rather sad that the Primary is only for Democrats and Republicans.

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