Election Day is on Tuesday, Nov. 5, in Texas, and polling locations all across the state will be expecting the last wave of voters to cast their ballots just before polls close.
Here are some answers to questions Dallas County voters might have before heading to the polls Tuesday.
Where can I vote?
Dallas County voters can find all Election Day polling locations using the county’s “Vote Center Finder” at www.dallascountyvotes.org/vote-centers.
Will there be transportation available?
Dallas Area Rapid Transit and Trinity Metro will offer people in their service areas free rides to and from polling locations on Election Day.
DART riders will need to show their government ID or voter registration to ride free on all DART buses, trains, GoLink, the Dallas Streetcar, paratransit services and the Trinity Railway Express between EBJ Union and CentrePort/DFW Airport stations. Trinity Metro riders can let their drivers know they are traveling to or from a polling place to ride free on any Trinity Metro bus, rideshare and paratransit service or TEXRail.
What do I need to bring? Is there a dress code?
To cast a ballot in person, voters must have one of the following forms of ID present:
- Texas driver’s license
- Texas election ID certificate
- Texas personal ID card
- Texas handgun license
- U.S. citizenship certificate with photo
- U.S. military ID card
- U.S. passport, book or card
- Voter registration certificate with permanent exception status
If you can’t present one of these forms of ID, other alternative forms of identification can be accepted.
Voters should also keep in mind the appropriate attire to wear to polling places. In Texas, it’s illegal to wear political T-shirts showing support or opposition for any of the current ballot items at or near a voting location.
Refusing to comply could result in being charged with a Class C misdemeanor, which could mean a $500 fine.
What’s on the ballot?
The Dallas County election ballot includes a collection of federal, state and local races — including the president and vice president, state senator and county sheriff — as well as 18 propositions for city of Dallas charter and code amendments.
Propositions S, T and U are three proposed charter amendments started through a signature-gathering campaign led by nonprofit group Dallas Hero. The propositions would make it easier for Dallas residents to sue the city in certain cases, give the community power to influence whether the city manager is fired or receives pay bonuses, and mandate Dallas annually spend half of new revenue it gets on police hiring, pay, pension and other benefits.
If approved, proposition S would require Dallas to waive its governmental immunity to allow any resident to file a lawsuit alleging the municipal government isn’t complying with the charter, local ordinances or state law.
Proposition T would require the city to conduct an annual survey of at least 1,400 residents rating the city manager’s performance. And proposition U would require the City Council to approve setting aside at least 50% of any excess annual revenue for the fire and police pension system, as well as other public safety initiatives.
The proposed amendments were initiated and are backed by nonprofit organization Dallas Hero, while a group of current and former city, county and state elected officials have shown tremendous opposition. Their objection is fueled by concerns that the propositions will “undermine the authority” of elected Dallas officials and “be detrimental to almost every city service.”
Dallas County election officials are encouraging those still looking to vote on Tuesday to familiarize themselves with what’s on the ballot to help cut back on time for themselves and others at the polls.
Polls will open at 7 a.m. on Election Day and remain open until 7 p.m.
