Voting Matters

High School Voter Registration Campaign

Tyler Jr. College January 20, 10am-2pm

To help, contact: eshightower@suddenlink.net

Texas ranks last among the states in the percentage of people who are eligible to vote who actually do vote. Though Smith County’s record is slightly higher than the state average, it is still dismal. The passage of a photo ID regulation adds even more difficulty to the task of registering, informing, and motivating voters to vote.

The High School Registration Project is one strategy LWV-TSC will undertake in 2011-2012 to improve these statistics. The plan calls for convening a community coalition of several organizations to organize and implement a county-wide approach to engaging young voters. This project will make good use of the experiences of the LWV High School Registration Pilot Project in 2010 and the excellent manual developed on the basis of those research findings.

In addition to registering students to vote, this project will also assist those who do not have government issued photo IDs, now mandated by state law, to secure them. Furthermore, the project will recruit student volunteers to help family and friends register and vote.

Please volunteer to help ensure that young people in this area understand that voting is important and help prepare them to take an active part in civic life.

Are You Ready to Vote? Community Meeting

January 30, 7 pm-Genecov Room, Tyler Chamber of Commerce

Please use the form below to volunteer for the planning meeting on Voting Matters.

Are you sure you are ready to vote? As of January 1, 2012 everyone who votes in Texas must present a government-issued photo ID, as well as a voter registration certificate in order to vote.

Probably most website visitors can easily handle these new requirements. Many Tyler and Smith County residents, however, do not have the required government photo IDs, such as passports or driving licenses. Often they do not have transportation to the Texas Department of Public Safety where they can secure the photo ID they need to vote.

To help solve this problem, LWV-TSC is planning "Voting Matters," a community-wide meeting to help people in our area understand the new voting regulations and also to help people secure their photo IDs if they need assistance. Planning for "Voting Matters" will take place January 30, 7pm. You are invited to attend and to volunteer to help implement a plan.

Please use the form below to volunteer for the planning meeting on Voting Matters.

What Does the Voter ID Bill Say?

Link to Secretary of State's information about details of the Voter ID Bill

Electing the President

Electing the President: A Guide to the Election Process

Download this informative, easy-to-understand 16-page guide. Excellent for use with students, clubs and organizations, or to help keep score over the course of the campaign. To download, click here.

Your Elected Officials

Your Elected Officials: May 2011 Election

The latest up-to-date edition of Your Elected Officials, including officials elected in the May 14, 2011 election, will be available soon. This newest edition is a basic resource that includes information about national, state, and county officials, as well as those of all cities and school districts in Smith County. For each official, it includes office addresses, email, and phone numbers. Use this information to contact your elected officials to let them know your opinions.

The brochure also can be a valuable tool for the community. If you know of a group that could use this brochure, contact a member of the LWV-Tyler/Smith County board.

Or you will be able to download a copy here.