Voting In Burleson County

Voting is a lot like fishing.  It takes some preparation, a little time and patience, but the catch can really help America.  Here is how to do it:

Register

Registering to vote is right up there with buying a fishing license ... except ITS FREE!  You can register in lots of ways:

• At the Courthouse in the Elections Administrator's Office (Ground Floor #107)
• When you renew your driver's license at the DPS Office in the Courthouse (just across the hall from the Elections Administrator).
• By Mail.  You can either download the registration form or request that a postage-paid "official" form be sent to you by browsing over to the Texas Secretary of State Office on the Web.  Forms are also available at the library, post office, and high school.

YOU MUST HAVE REGISTERED BY FEBRUARY 4, 2008 TO VOTE IN THE 2008 PRIMARY ELECTION!

YOU MUST REGISTER BY OCTOBER 6, 2008 TO VOTE IN THE 2008 GENERAL ELECTION!

Learn

There are a lot of fish, differing markedly in how good they taste.  Same is true for politicians and the laws they pass.  Republicans work hard to find good politicians who cook up at least "edible" laws.  We can also fix you up with a set of lures that are perfect for catching the politician you want!  Of course you need to see if our taste matches yours! ( We Bet It Will! ).

Read the Candidates page here and follow the links to each candidate's home pages.  Attend some of our MEETINGS and EVENTS where you can meet and talk with the candidates, hear them talk about their plans, and tell them what you think.

Decide which candidates YOU want!  If you can't remember all the names, just write them down a piece of paper or circle them on a SAMPLE BALLOT and take it with you when you vote.

Vote Early!

Early has always been associated with good fishing and it works with voting as well. It's really important if you even think you might be out of town, busy, or getting out to the lake on election day! Early voting is getting to be an art form - You can do it at locations all over the County!  Here's the scoop for this election:

Early Vote at the Burleson County Courthouse in Caldwell:

Special Early Voting  Locations:  (Any voter may vote at any one of these locations)

Vote By Mail!

Voting has one up on fishing: it can come to you! If you are disabled, over 65, or camped out at that favorite fishing hole and not planning to come back any time soon, use the VOTE BY MAIL method. Call Paula Bartnesky, Burleson County Elections Administrator, at 979-567-2000 or Surf over to the Texas Secretary of State Web Site as soon as possible. The application that they will send or download to you must be completed and received at the Burleson County Courthouse by February 26, 2008 to be counted in the Election!

Vote On Election Day!

If you don't know where to go, find your Precinct Number (labeled "Prec. No." on your Voter Registration Card) and  click HERE; or call 567-2000.

The voting polls open at 7am and close at 7pm.  Everybody in line at 7pm gets to vote.

If you need assistance in getting to the voting polls or in physically voting, we are happy to help you.  Please call 567-0573.

Identification

You always get to meet the Game Warden when voting, so BRING IDENTIFICATION. Under current Texas law, your vote cannot be counted unless you present acceptable identification:

• Voter Registration Card - this is the best and gets you through the line at the fastest possible speed.  Nothing else is required.

  EXCEPTION: If you are a new voter who registered by mail and did not include the required identification documents with your mail-in application, then you must present one of the forms of identification listed below the first time you vote in Burleson County to have your vote counted.  They may also be used instead of the Voter Registration Card by any voter.

• Texas Driver's License or DPS Personal ID Card.
• A form of identification containing a photograph that establishes a person's identity (such as an employee identification card).
• Birth Certificate or other document confirming birth that is admissable in a court of law and establishes a person's identity.
• United States citizenship papers issued to the person.
• A United States passport issued to the person.
• Official mail addressed to the person by name by a government agency (This can include an expired voter registration certificate).
• A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the name and address of the voter.

Please remember that these identification rules are to protect the value of your vote by making sure that other people cannot vote multiple times (or places) in the same election!  The Election Officials WANT you to vote and will do all they can to make it legally happen!  In difficult cases it may take a few minutes for them to call the Burleson County Elections Administrator at the Courthouse to get a final decision.  If you are interested, you can read all the identification rules HERE.

You Moved and Did Not Re-Register

If you have moved from one place in Burleson County to another place in Burleson County and did not get a new Voter Registration Certificate at least 30 days before the election, then you must vote at your OLD PRECINCT if you want your vote to be counted.

There are special rules for people who have recently moved into (or out of) the County.  Generally, you cannot vote in the new county unless you have completed registering in the new county on or before February 4, 2008. You can still vote at your old location. NOTE: It MAY be possible to vote a limited ballot in your new county - but it must be done by personal appearance or by mail during the EARLY VOTING PERIOD. Call Paula Bartnesky, Burleson County Elections Administrator at 979-567-2000.

Getting Assistance

The ballot will be in English and in Spanish.  You can bring a translator with you and have them help you while you are voting.  You can also ask the Election Officials at the polls for help, provided that they can speak your language.

If you are disabled, you can bring along someone to assist you in voting.  You can also ask the Election Officials at the polls for assistance. If necessary, we can even bring the ballot out to your car!

Electronic Voting Machines

Ooops!

  If you goof up and don't do it right - or just wonder if you did it right, please ask the Election Officials for help!  They will provide you with all the help you want in filling out your ballot or casting it.  That's their job and they would much rather do that than have to throw out your vote because it wasn't done right!  Just ASK !

Enjoy The Results

Have an election party!  Watch the big results on TV with your friends.  You can get Burleson County results for state-wide races right HERE. Who knows, it might be almost as good as Football! (well, that might be stretching things a bit).   Best of all - enjoy watching your politician making laws that agree with your taste for years to come!

And even if your selection looses, now you can complain knowing that you did all you could!  Or did you?  Maybe you need to start coming to those Republican meetings next year and really get some say in what is happening!  Who knows, you might be our next Candidate!   Its also a good way to get a picture of you with your Catch!