The November Election is here, are you ready to vote?

Happy election season! Here at CTD we want to inform you on the latest updates, resources, and key dates for this election cycle. This election season, we are looking at changes to school boards, local offices, and the President of the United States. Below is some information you need to know! 

Still have questions? Running into issues as you make your voting plan, or while you're at the polls? Contact us by replying to this email!

Key Dates for the 2024 November Election

Monday, October 21 - First Day of Early Voting

Friday, October 25 - Last Day to Apply for a Ballot By Mail

Friday, November 1 - Last Day of Early Voting

Tuesday, November 5 - Last Day to Submit Ballot By Mail must be received/ postmarked by 7pm

Tuesday, November 5 - Election Day

Updates in Texas Election Laws

Early Voting

Counties must set early voting hours only between 6 AM and 10 PM.

Poll Watchers

There are fewer restrictions on poll watchers, who are able to move more freely around polling places, except where otherwise prohibited. This includes:

• Poll watchers are able to be “near enough to see and hear.”
• Poll watchers cannot be removed unless an election judge/ clerk sees them commit a violation, or police remove them after a “breach of the peace or a violation of law."
• Poll watchers can watch curbside voting.

Poll watchers do not receive training or guidance on legal accommodations for voters with disabilities. Know your rights at the polling place, and if you have an issue, call Disability Rights Texas' hotline at 1-888-796-VOTE (8683) or email vote@DRTX.org.

Voter Assistance

• Voter assistants must sign a revised oath.
• A voter may receive assistance from a friend, family member, or poll worker.
• A voter may not receive assistance from an employer or union representative.
• An assistant may go into the voting booth with the voter.
• An assistant must fill out a form if driving seven or more curbside voters.

Vote by Mail 

Voters attempting to vote in person after records indicate they applied to vote by mail are required to cast a provisional ballot, unless the voter returns the unmarked vote by mail ballot to the polling place.

SB 1 Lawsuit

The Texas Civil Rights Project (TCRP) reports a Major victory in lawsuit against Texas anti-voter law, SB 1. REV UP Texas (CTD is a member) is among the organizations who requested the suit. REV UP's Bob Kafka had this to say about why this is such a big deal: "The ruling protects the rights of Texas voters with disabilities to get the assistance they need without fear of prosecution. Due to SB 1, voters with disabilities faced the impossible choice of either exposing themselves and their assistors to state-jail felony charges or forgoing the assistance they need to exercise the most fundamental of rights, the right to vote." Read TCRP's full press release.

Resources & Reminders

• Find your Local Election Office

• Review these voter resource guides:

  • Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities' Voting Information for People with Disabilities

  • Disability Rights Texas' Voting Resources

  • League of Women Voters (LWV) of Texas' Voter resources

• Learn more about what's on your ballot with the Texas Tribune's Voter Guide

• LWV of Texas shows you How to Return Your Vote by Mail Ballot (video)

• If you've already mailed in your Vote by Mail Ballot, check your ballot's status with the Secretary of State's Ballot Tracker. LVW Texas has a video for how to use that too: How to Use the State's Mail in Ballot Tracker

• If your county has county-wide polling, then you can vote at any polling place in the county that you are registered in. If your county does not have county-wide polling, then you must vote at your designated polling location. Look up whether your county participates in the Countywide Polling Place Program (CWPP) for the current election.

• Problems voting? Questions about voters with disabilities? Call Disability Rights Texas' hotline at 1-888-796-VOTE (8683) or email vote@DRTX.org. 

• Problems voting? Questions about voting in general? Want to report issues? Call 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) to speak with a trained election protection volunteer.

• Election Protection hotlines in languages other than English:

  • 888-Ve-Y-Vota (839-8682) Spanish

  • 888-API-VOTE (888-274-8683) English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Bengali, Urdu, Hindi, and Tagalog

  • 844-YALLA-US (844-925-5287) Arabic

  • 301-818-VOTE (301-818-8683) American Sign Language (video call)

Cinema Touching Disability Film Festival

Capitol Care CDS

Did you know? CTD operates Capitol Care CDS, a program that allows Medicaid STAR+PLUS and STAR Kids recipients to hire and manage the people who will provide their attendant services.

If you, a loved one, or a friend have attendant care needs, Capitol Care CDS may be the answer!

Already a CDS consumer? Service areas have changed! View Managed Care Service Areas, effective September 1, 2024, as a map or a table. Contact your current service coordinator with questions or concerns.

Coming up at CTD & in the community!

Thank you to our major 2024
Cinema Touching Disability Sponsors!

Blue Sky Abilities, LLC

Texas Association for Interior Design

Victoria Ford & Scott Hochburg

Knaupe GR

Chase & Bethany Bearden

Texas Medical Association

American Construction Investigations, LTD

JWH Communications

Lynda Frost & Dennis Borel

McGuireWoods Consulting

Texas Film Commission

AbbVie

AstraZeneca

Hart Intercivic

Pfizer

Sanofi

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