Americans are exhausted. The constant stream of troubling news can leave us feeling overwhelmed, discouraged and powerless. And authoritarians want the people to feel hopeless and helpless.
We must not confuse exhaustion with defeat.
One of the most damaging consequences of sustained political turmoil is the belief that nothing can be done. That events are inevitable. That the only sensible response is to put our heads down, endure what comes and hope, simply, to survive.
None of this is inevitable. Your voice still matters. Your participation still matters.
Democracy does not belong to the loudest person on television or the most powerful person in Washington. Democracy belongs to us!
Texas’s mid-term election date is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Now: Forget that date! Vote early!
•Oct. 19: Early voting begins. Polls
are open every day through Oct. 30,
7 a.m.-7 p.m., except Sunday, Oct. 25,
when polls will be open from
noon-6 p.m.
•Oct. 23: Mail ballot application
deadline. This is the last day to
apply for a ballot by mail.
•Oct: 30 Early voting ends.
This is the last day to vote early.
This mid-term election compels us to vote early. This administration will encourage all sorts of shenanigans at polling places, and the earlier you vote, the less likely you will be to encounter the nonsense.
Early voting is an established voting option, and millions of Americans regularly use it. Any registered voter may vote early, in person.
To vote by mail, you must first complete the mail-in ballot form on the Texas Secretary of State website, WebServices.SoS.State.Tx.US/forms/6-1f.pdf. For complete details, visit VoteTexas.gov.
During the early voting period, registered voters can vote at any polling location within their county of registration. For specific polling locations and hours, visit DallasDemsVote.gov or VoteTexas.gov.
Oct. 19 is our opportunity to reclaim the narrative — not with anger or violence, but with hope, courage and numbers. Here is what massive participation during early voting accomplishes:
- It combats the constant barrage of disinformation about election security and voter fraud. Imagine how people will feel when they see millions of people in line to vote.
- It sends an unmistakable message to those trying to destroy our government that we are not giving up control of our democracy.
- It gives people time to deal with problems such as being removed from the voter rolls in error or problems with ID.
This is not a time to shrink away. This is a time to get big and be loud and live up to our promise that we are the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Early voting couldn’t be easier and more convenient! Whether you are at home, at work or out running errands, you will be able to find a polling place near you. Please mark your calendar to vote early, for these reasons:
- Convenience: More days, more hours and more locations to choose from.
- Less stress: Avoid Election Day crowds and conflicts.
- Check it off your list: Vote early — and then brag about it!
You can find early voting locations at: GoElect.TxElections.CivixApps.com, or you may visit SoS.State.Tx.US/Elections/Voter/County.shtml.
Since voter registration purges have us all concerned, you can address registration issues during early voting. If your registration is not up to date, you may be required to provide additional documentation or update your information at the polling location.
If you vote early, you will be allowed to vote even if there is a question about your voter registration. Go to any early voting location (the earlier, the better), explain your challenge, show several alternate forms of identification, and an election official will execute a “Reasonable Impediment Declaration.”
Or you can ask for a “provisional ballot,” and verify your eligibility later. Your on-site election official will advise you.
If you are told you cannot vote at the polls, your legal response must be, “Please give me a provisional ballot, with a receipt, as required by law.”
Here is a list of the acceptable forms of photo ID at the polling place:
- Texas driver license issued by the
Texas Department of Public Safety
(DPS) - Texas election identification
certificate issued by DPS - Texas personal identification card
issued by DPS - Texas handgun license issued
by DPS - United States military
identification card with
your photograph - United States citizenship certificate
with your photograph - United States Passport
(book or card)
If you need help voting,
call the Voter Assistance Line: - 1-844-TX-VOTES (tel:18448986837)
for services offered in English and
Spanish. - 888-API-VOTE (tel:18882748683)
for Asian languages. - 844-YALLA-US for Arabic.
- 301-818-VOTE for American Sign
Language (video call).
For information on voting options for Texans with disabilities, visit VoteTexas.gov/Voters-With-Special-Needs/index.html.
Your voting experience should feel safe and uneventful. If you see anything suspicious or irregular while at your voting location, please call 1-844-TX-VOTES to report your concern.
An investigation will immediately commence, and a protest will soon gather at the site.
When you go to your polling place, you will notice a cone or other distance marker placed 100 feet from the entrance of the building. If you must record something that seems unusual, please make sure you are outside the 100-foot marker.
Vote early, stand tall, and let your voice be heard. Your vote is your declaration that our democracy, our future and our voices matter.
Robert Emery is a longtime community leader, organizer and activist.