After two weeks of early voting, Election Day has arrived in El Paso County, giving voters one last chance to cast their ballots before polls close at 7 p.m. on Nov. 4. Early voting ended Friday, Oct. 31, with county data showing that as of Oct. 30, out of 518,387 registered voters, only 17,481 voted early.
El Paso County voter turnout has been low through multiple elections, including the Uniform Election on May 3 where out of 319,025 registered voters, there were 9,401 ballots cast, making for a voter turnout rate of 2.94%. Even the November 2024 General Election had less than half of registered voters showed up, with a turnout rate of 48.75%. Out of 522,442 registered voters, 254,710 cast a ballot last year.
Many University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) students, including sophomore economics major Denise Alvarez, felt like they were not informed enough on the voting process or what was on the ballot to cast their vote early.
“I knew there was an election going on but since I haven’t voted before, I didn’t know what to expect or how to figure out what I’m voting for,” Alvarez said. “I think for me and like my friends here [at UTEP], it’s hard to find the time to figure this stuff out and getting informed.”
Brenda Vasquez, a junior political science student, shared that while she has voted in every election since she became eligible to do so, she doesn’t see as many university students doing the same.
“For me [voting is] something that I always try to do and is important to me,” Vasquez said. “I don’t think a lot of students or younger people go out and vote because I think they may think it’s too complicated or takes too much time.”
Vasquez thinks that putting some extra time into getting informed about what is on the ballot is worth it to better the community.
“It takes a bit of time away, but I think people think it is harder than it really is,” Vasquez said. “It’s important to share your voice, it’s important to take that time and I don’t think we can complain about what is happening in the community if we aren’t voting and being involved.”
As residents prepare to make their voices heard, here is what to know before voting.
Preparing to vote
Before heading to the polls, voters can check if they are registered to vote through the El Paso County Elections Department or the Texas Secretary of State’s Office.
Voters are also encouraged to look at the sample ballots for their area ahead of voting.
For those with mobility challenges, curbside voting is available at most locations, and election workers can help with accessibility needs.
When and where to vote
Polls across El Paso County are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Anyone who is in line at 7 p.m. will still be able to cast their vote.
Voters can cast a ballot at any of the county’s designated Election Day voting centers, regardless of their home precinct. This is part of the county’s vote center system which aims to give residents better accessibility to voting.
A full list and interactive map of voting centers is available on the El Paso County Elections Department website. UTEP students can vote on campus in the Union Building East, Acacia Room 102A.
Voters must present an approved photo ID, which includes a Texas Driver’s License, Texas Election Identification Certificate, Texas Personal Identification Card, Texas Handgun License, United States Military Identification Card containing the person’s photograph, United States Citizenship Certificate/Certificate of Naturalization containing the person’s photograph and United States Passport book or card.
Another option is to present supporting documents which require the person to complete a Reasonable Impediment Declaration at the polling place. These documents may include a government document that shows your name and an address, including a Voter Registration Certificate, current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, certified domestic birth certificate, or a document confirming birth admissible in a court of law establishing identity.
For those voting by mail, the elections department has to receive the mail-in ballots that are not postmarked by 7 p.m. on Election Day. If the envelope is postmarked by 7 p.m. on Election Day, the elections department will accept it until 5 p.m. Nov. 5.
What is on the ballot
The Nov. 4 ballot includes 17 proposed amendments or statewide propositions to the Texas Constitution that range from billions of dollars in property tax cuts for homeowners and businesses, to university funding, funding for dementia research and prevention, water infrastructure funding and more.
Voters can learn more about these 17 propositions through the sample ballots available in the El Paso County Elections Department. Each of these propositions will require majority approval from voters statewide.
Voters in the Socorro and Tornillo Independent School Districts will decide on the Voter Approval Tax Ratification Election (VATRE) which asks whether the districts can increase the property tax rate above what’s allowed by law.
Residents of the Town of Clint will vote on their District at-large Alderman. The City of Socorro will vote on Alderman’s for District 1, 2 and 3. The Village of Vinton will be voting for their mayor and Alderman Place 1 and 2.
El Paso County Elections Department will begin to post results once polls close.
Ximena Cordero is the web and copy editor for The Prospector and may be reached at [email protected].edu and on LinkedIn @ximenacordero
