Early Voting In Houston: What's On The Ballot And Where To Vote

HOUSTON, TX — The polls are now open in what is shaping up to be one of the most active midterm election periods in more than two decades. At the top of everyone’s list is the contentious senate race between Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Houston, who is facing off against El Paso Democratic Congressman Beto O’Rourke.

However, there are a number of races in the Houston area that are grabbing the attention of local voters, and some could see changes in leadership on Nov. 6. One of those races is in Congressional District 7, where Republican Congressman John Culberson faces a stiff challenge from attorney and Democratic candidate Lizzie Fletcher.

The two squared off in a debate at the University of Houston on Sunday night, with Fletcher repeatedly assailing Culberson for failing to prepare his constituents for the flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey, a claim that Culberson denied.

The pair have been trading attack ads in the local media with Fletcher accusing Culberson of pandering to lobbyists, and Culberson accusing the Fletcher campaign of being bankrolled by former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

In Harris County, Ed Emmett is making his last run as county judge. Emmett who drew high praise from constituents during Hurricane Harvey, which helped fuel overwhelming passage of the $2.5 billion flood control bond in August, is challenged by Democrat Linda Hidalgo, and Libertarian Eric Gatlin. In the Precinct 2 Commissioner’s race Republican Jack Morman is challenged by former Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia, who is running on the Democratic ticket.

On the local level, Houston firefighters are looking to achieve pay parity with the Houston Police Department. The referendum known as Proposition B, has drawn sharp criticism from Turner and the Houston Police Officers Union. The Houston Professional Firefighters Association has proposed a 25 percent increase the first year, and raises that are equal to police in subsequent years.

Prop B has strong support from firefighting organizations in Dallas, New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, all of whom sent letters of support to Turner expressing their support of their fellow firefighters.

However, Turner says if Prop B passes it would cost the city $98 million per year, and with the passage of a revenue cap by voters in 2004, the city would be unable to raise taxes to pay the salaries and some firefighters could face layoffs, according to Turner.

Outside of these well publicized elections, there’s a lot more happening with school board elections, resolutions and city elections in other Harris County communities, and more.

You can check out the ballot in Harris County by clicking the link and see who’s running and what’s on your local ballot.

To help ease the process at least a little bit, following is an interactive map of early voting sites in your area. Bear in mind that during early voting and on Election Day, you can vote at any polling location where you see a "Vote Here" ("Vote Aqui" in Spanish) sign.

Early voting locations are open

• Oct. 22-26, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Oct. 27, 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
• Oct. 28, 1 p.m. - 6 p.m.
• Oct. 29- Nov. 2, 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.

For a list of election day voting locations in Harris County, click here.
Check your voter registration status and find the list of districts and local entities you are eligible to vote for at www.harrisvotes.com.

Finally, voters should remember to bring a valid form or identification when they come to the polls during early voting or on election day.

Acceptable forms of identification include identification with a photograph, such as:

• A valid drivers license
• A US Passport
• A concealed handgun license
• A Military identification card
• A US Citizens certificate with photograph

However, if you don’t have any of these, the voter mus fill out a declaration at the polls describing a reasonable impediment to obtaining it, and show a copy or original of one of the following supporting forms of ID:

• A government document that shows your name and an address, including your voter registration certificate
• Current utility bill
• Bank statement
• Government check
• Paycheck
• (a) A certified domestic (from a U.S. state or territory) birth certificate or (b) a document confirming birth admissible in a court of law which establishes your identity (which may include a foreign birth document)

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