2022 Midterm Elections: Where to vote in Texas? When do your designated polls open and close?

Voters in the Lone Star state are taking to the polls to determine who will be their next governor as well as fill other important positions up and down the ballot. Incumbent Governor Greg Abbott is seeking a third term and facing a strong challenge from former-Congressman Beto O’Rourke.

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With around 4.67 million votes cast, and about 16.1 million eligible voters, nearly 28.5 percent of the electorate has already voted.

Do I need to bring an ID to vote in Texas?

Yes. Under Texas law voters are required to bring a sanctioned form of identification with them when they go to vote.

The accepted forms of IDs include

For those who do not have any one of these IDs, you can still vote. The voter will sign a sworn statement that provides a reason why none of these IDs are available, and at the same time present, either a certified birth certificate, a valid voter registration certificate, or a current bill, bank statement, paycheck, or government check or other document that has the voter’s full name and address.

How can I find my polling location in Texas?

Voters can identify their polling place by using a tool provided by the state.

State-level offices on the ballot this year

Governor

Recent polls, however, show Abbott with a wide eight-point lead. The current state of the race stands at around 51 percent for Abbott, with O’Rourke trailing at 43 percent, leaving some room for movement with more than six percent of voters still undecided.

With the state having been led by Abbott for eight years, O’Rourke has tried to call attention to the government’s failures to prevent mass shootings and has also called attention to the failures that led to the 2021 energy crisis where fifty-seven Texans lost their lives.

And, of course, many are still mourning the nineteen children and two teachers murdered at Robb Elementary School, and many remember the catastrophic failure of police to put an end to the violence quickly. State law enforcement even passed false information to the governor in the early hours of the investigation that placed blame on teachers at the school for leaving doors open and touting the bravery of first responders. Within the next few weeks, the public would see the cowardly and disorganized police response that allowed the gunman to stay in the classrooms with the children for over an hour.

Lieutenant Governor

The Lieutenant Governor is a sort of vice-governor who takes on certain responsibilities when it comes to the management of some state-level affairs. In Texas, most of the responsibilities of the Lieutenant Governor relate to their role in the state legislature, as they are allowed to establish committees and name leaders and members. Additionally, they settle parliamentary debates on questions related to procedure in the state Senate.

Candidates:

Attorney General

According to the Attorney General’s official website, the responsibilities of the office include “defending the State of Texas and its duly elected laws by providing legal representation to the State,” as well as ensuring child support laws are enforced and that the state does not waste or abuse their power or resources.

Candidates

Comptroller

This elected position deals with the state’s budget, overseeing government revenue and expenditure from the state legislature.

Candidates

State Board of Education (15 seats)

The Texas Board of Education is comprised of representatives from districts across the state and is tasked with overseeing educational standards and rules for schools.

Agriculture Commissioner

The Texas Agriculture Commissioner is responsible for promoting the sector to ensure that it remains competitive and has responsibilities related to consumer products and promoting healthy living.

Candidates:

Railroad Commissioner

The name of this position is a little misleading. While, in the past, the Railroad Commission did oversee the state’s train system, today, it controls Texas’ oil and gas sector. After the energy crisis in 2021, younger residents began to take note of this office, and this year Luke Warford is challenging incumbent Wayne Christian.

Candidates:

Public Lands Commissioner

Candidates: