Voters exit the polling place at the R.B. Hubbard Center, The HUB at 304 E. Ferguson St. The HUB is attached to the Smith County Elections Office, 302 E. Ferguson St. (Tyler Morning Telegraph File)

Texans have about one month left to register to vote to participate in the Nov. 6 election.

Eligible voters who are not yet registered need to return a signed paper copy of a voter registration form by Oct. 9.

Nov. 6 is the general election for races including U.S. senator, U.S. representative, governor, lieutenant governor, Texas Senate, Texas House and county races.

To obtain a voter registration form, voters can visit VoteTexas.gov to download and print one out, or visit the Smith County Elections Office at 302 E. Ferguson St. to obtain one in person.

Smith County voters will need to return the signed registration form to the Smith County Elections Office either in person or by mail. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The phone number is 903-590-4777.

Eligible voters are U.S. citizens, residents of the county where they are registering, will be at least 18 years old by Election Day, and are not convicted felons, according to the Texas Secretary of State’s Office. However, convicted felons may be eligible to vote if they have completed their sentence, probation and parole, according to the secretary of state.

Voters who were registered in Smith County but have moved to another place in Smith County can change their address at the election office or do so online at https://txapps.texas.gov/tolapp/sos/SOSACManager. 

Joanna Stanfield, an administrative assistant in the Smith County Elections Office, said there also will be volunteers called deputy registrars going around Smith County helping people register to vote.

“I think it’s important for everyone to register to vote,” Stanfield said. “I think it’s one of those things that you’re privileged to get to do, is to vote in an election.

“You’ve always heard the saying that if you don’t vote then you don’t have a say, so I think everybody needs to register to vote.”

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