Roy Maynard: Early Returns

If the early voting numbers are any indicator - and I am sure they are - then many Smith County residents who haven't voted in years, if ever, are engaged, excited and ready to show up at the polls on Tuesday.

For their benefit, I'd like to go over some of the procedures and rules for voters. Much of this material comes from the Texas Secretary of State's excellent voter education program, VoTexas.org.

All registered voters who haven't voted early. You must have registered at least 30 days prior to March 4. But you don't have to have your actual voter registration card, a photo ID will do. If you don't have one of those, bring some government paperwork with your name and address, or even just a utility bill with the same information.

If it's unclear whether you are registered, you can still vote. You will cast a "provisional ballot" and if it later turns out that you're eligible, your vote will be counted.

On Election Day, you must vote at your precinct polling place. A list of polling places is published on page 21A in the newspaper, and will be reprinted on Tuesday.

That's one of the county's new electronic voting machines. Cool, huh? But they can be a little intimidating if you're not familiar with computers and touch-screens (although they're a lot like video poker machines).

Voters touch the name of their candidate on the screen, or the box that says "For" or "Against" in a referendum.

Mistakes are easily changed, and poll workers are there to help.

The machines were mandated under the federal Help America Vote Act in an effort to prevent vote count controversies such as the one seen in Florida during the 2000 presidential election.

A poll worker will escort each voter to a machine and explain the process. When a race appears on the screen, a voter touches his choice.

By the way, it's not the pressure on the screen that registers your choice - it's the length of time your finger remains on the spot. So there's no need to poke. Just touch.

Before your ballot is cast, you will be able to review your choices. If you wish to revise one or more, you can touch the "back" button.

When you are satisfied with your choices, you can push the red button at the top of the machine that says "vote." The final screen you'll see will say "Your ballot has been cast. Thank you for voting."

At the end of the day, the votes from each machine are loaded onto a master cartridge.

Sure. The state of Texas doesn't expect you to remember the name of every candidate you support. I know I can't. So I take a list into the voting booth with me. You can take in voter's guides, handwritten notes, or recipes. Did you notice that my recipe for yeast rolls was in Wednesday's paper? Not that it will help you vote. But the rolls are pretty good.

Can I vote for both a Republican nominee and a Democratic nominee?

No. You may only participate in one primary. You get to pick which one, however. Even if you have voted Republican your entire life, you can vote Democratic this time. Or vice versa.

Can I vote on Election Day if I voted early in this election?

No. Where do you think you are? Louisiana? You only get to vote once here. And only if you're verifiably alive.

Precinct workers can help, or you can call the Smith County elections office at 903-590-4777. And on Election Day, I should be at my desk most of the time. If you have a question you think I can help with, call me at 903-596-6291.

Roy Maynard
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