In Texas we have long used a voting method which has become very popular across the United States. It’s called voting by mail. Other states have embraced this concept and in the State of Washington everyone votes by mail. Texas didn’t create voting by mail but we have used it well over the years.
In Texas voting by mail does have some restrictions. Those who wish to vote by mail must be registered and must meet at least one of the following criteria. They must be 65 years of age or older, or they must have a disability which prevents them from going to their polling place, or they must be confined in jail and not be finally convicted of a felony or them must be absent from the county during early voting in person and on Election Day. If you meet one of the criteria you may request that a ballot be mailed to your current address.
To apply for a ballot by mail you must make a written request. You may contact the Elections Office and request an application to vote by mail be sent to your current mailing address. You may also go online to www.vctx.org/elections and select MAIL BALLOT. Print the form and mail it to the Elections Office. For those who are currently away from Victoria, you may FAX the form to our office. You may not fax the form if you live in the county.
You may also write a letter requesting a ballot by mail for the November 4, 2008 General Election. The letter must include your name and current registered address in Victoria County. The letter must also include the mailing address where the ballot is to be mailed and the reason you are requesting the ballot by mail. You may include your Voter Registration Number and your voting precinct number.
For individuals who are requesting the ballot be mailed to an address other than their registered address you must provide information as to the reason it is not being mailed to your registered address. Sometimes this can be as simple as absent from the county but it could also be that the person is living in with a relative or in an assisted living community.
Contact the Elections Office at elections@vctx.org for more information or call 576-0124.
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Early voting in person begins on Monday, October 20, 2008 at the Elections Office. The Elections Office will be open daily from 8 to 5 for early voting as well as some extended hours. We will also have temporary branch voting sites at the Victoria Mall and Health Department on special days.
September 29, 2008 at 8:45 a.m.You may go to the county elections website at www.vctx.org/elections and get more information on all dates, times and places.
Mr. Matthews, when does early voting start?
September 27, 2008 at 11:03 a.m.That makes sense. Thanks.
September 26, 2008 at 11:09 a.m.I am not aware of any state which currently allows the process of voting to use e-mail as a means of transmitting the ballot to the voter and back to the voting office. The central issue is one of privacy of the voter. A voted ballot returned as an attachment to an e-mail would no longer provide the voter the current expectation to secrecy of his or her vote. Any ballot returned anonymously could not be verified as having originated with a qualified voter.
September 26, 2008 at 11:07 a.m.The only exception to this currently is balloting for military personnel who are stationed in dangerous places. The can receive a ballot through a fax process and the ballot can be returned by fax. This system requires using the Federal Voting Assistance program to verify the origin on the fax.
Very interesting. I didn't know those in jail, who'd yet to be convicted of a felony, could vote in an election. That makes sense, though.
September 26, 2008 at 10:56 a.m.I have a question after reading your blog. Do any states allow ballots to be e-mailed? With technology on the rise, I'd bet younger voters might be more apt to vote if they could do so from their laptops or Blackberries. What do you know about that? Thanks -- Gabe