Countdown to voting
Newman follows procedures in preparation for amendment election
By SHARON KERR Staff Writer

Jasper residents have until Oct. 9, less than two weeks, to register to vote in the Nov. 6 elections, according to Jasper County Clerk Debbie Newman, who said while it is not a high-profile election, there are important issues at stake.

For example, there will be 16 propositions to amend the Texas State Constitution, ranging from the antiquated (Prop 10: abolish the office of inspector of hides and animals) to expensive (Prop 15: $3 billion in bonds to create a state cancer research institute).

You can obtain a voter registration application at the county clerk's office, at the sub-courthouses in Kirbyville or Buna, the library, at any state agency such as DPS or DHS (Dept. of Public Safety or Dept. of Human Services), or online at www.sos.state.tx.us.

It's free and only takes minutes. You will be asked to provide your full name, address, date of birth and a form of identification such as a driver's license or personal identification number.

You can only register to vote in the county in which you reside.

Newman said Texas is part of a pilot program that cross-checks to prevent voters from registering in more than one county, and by next year's presidential election, more than one state.

This has been an issue in years past, particularly states like Texas where winter Texans could potentially vote at their summer residence as well.

Voter registration laws do vary by state. In Texas, convicted felons are eligible to vote once their sentence is completed, including any parole or probation.

In Texas, you can register at age 17 years 10 months, but to vote, you must be at least 18 by election day. Jasper County currently has more than 21,000 registered voters. However, more than 2,500 are on suspense, according to Newman.

"That doesn't mean they can't vote," she explained. "It just means when we mailed them a card, it came back to us as 'undeliverable.'"

The county clerk's office mails a new voter registration card every two years; if the date on your yellow card is more than two years old, it's time to visit a registration office to be sure your address is correct and upto date. In many cases, the problem may be that you have not updated your 911 address and are still using the old rural route numbers.

If you discover on election day that you can't locate your card, you can still vote by showing other identification, but it will be easier and faster to locate your card and put it in a safe place now, or get a replacement if you can't find it.

If you've moved, even within the county, it is important to update your information because the ballots in each precinct and municipality are different. Depending on where you live, you may be voting on precinct offices such as constable, city offices such as mayor, school board, hospital board or fire district, in addition to whatever state and national offices and issues are on the ballot.

For that same reason, you need to vote at the polling location listed on your voter registration card, or take advantage of the more flexible times for early voting.

Early voting

Newman says more than half the voters in Jasper County now take advantage of early voting.

With a county more than 70 miles long and with many people who work offshore or commute to the Beaumont area, voting in your own precinct on a Tuesday may not be convenient or possible. Early voting for any Jasper voter will be available at the Jasper County Annex Monday - Saturday, Oct. 22-27 and Oct. 29-Nov. 2, at 271 E. Lamar St.

Early voting will also be available Friday, Oct. 26, at the Kirbyville and Buna sub-courthouses and Evadale Fire Station.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at all early voting locations.

Newman said there will be no early voting at Browndell for this election. At the previous election, only four votes were cast, and two were by election workers.

Voting by mail

Voting by mail is a limited option for some Jasper residents.

"You can't decide to vote by mail just because you want to," Newman said, but there are special circumstances that allow voters to mail their ballots.

Residents who meet the criteria must request an application by Oct. 30 and their ballots must be received no later than close of business Nov. 6.

To be eligible to vote by mail, you must be sick or disabled, 65 or older on election day, confined in jail (but not a convicted felon serving a sentence), or away from your county on election day and during early voting.

For more information on voting by mail, contact the county clerk's office at 384- 2632.

"We do everything we can to make voting accessible to everyone," Newman said. She keeps a wheelchair at the annex, and the county even offers curbside "ring the bell" voting for those who have trouble getting out of a vehicle.

"It takes two election workers to serve a curbside voter," Newman said, "but my mother was handicapped so I know what it is like."

The county also offers ballots in Spanish, the voting machines are equipped to assist the visually impaired, and for those who are computer-phobic, you can even vote by hand, not machine, on request.

"The important thing is that they register, and they vote," Newman said.

This is part one of a series by Jasper County Clerk Debbie Newman to inform and encourage people to exercise their right to vote. In the coming weeks The Jasper Newsboy will cover election preparations and security, HAVA (Help America Vote Act of 2002), and more on the issues. Email your questions on elections to reporter@jaspernewsboy.c om.