Dallas’ most common voting and ballot questions, answered
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Today is Election Day. We listened to your questions during early voting and compiled this list of answers to equip you for the most confusing ballot items and election rules:
- Don’t let the little known local elections surprise you. At the bottom of their ballots, Dallas voters will find two tax propositions.The County is asking to increase taxes to reduce homelessness, and the City is asking for bond funds for public safety facilities. We have your primer on the efforts for and against both propositions.
- Dallas County residents can vote anywhere, countywide. Five times as many voting locations are open today, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., than during early voting. Registered voters can cast a ballot at any Dallas County location, including dozens of Dallas ISD schools, which are closed today. The County even tracks wait times.
- How you vote is secret. You may have received text messages noting which elections you voted in; only that information is public. Your candidate and proposition choices will not be disclosed.
- Phones are not allowed inside polling locations, so print a sample ballot or jot down your picks. You also cannot wear clothing supporting a candidate, party or issue within 100 yards of the polling place.
- Get to a polling location before 7 p.m., and stay in line. You need a driver’s license or state ID (you don’t need your voter registration card). If a problem arises, ask other poll workers to verify that you are receiving the correct information before you leave, or call Texas Voter Protection at 866.OURVOTE. Don’t give up. Your vote is important.
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Still have questions? Check out our Dallas voter guide at dallasfreepress.com/vote or send us an email.
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Keri Mitchell has spent 20+ years as a community journalist, including 15 years dedicated to community and civic journalism at Dallas’ Advocate magazines. She launched Dallas Free Press in early 2020 with the belief that all neighborhoods deserve reporting and storytelling that values their community and holds leaders accountable.
Mitchell says she is energized by “knowing our work is making an impact — listening to people, telling their stories with strong narratives paired with compelling data that leads to change. I also love spending time in our neighborhoods and with our neighbors, learning from them and working to determine how journalism can be part of the solution to their challenges.”
Mitchell is proud to be the winner of multiple awards during her journalism career including: Finalist in Magazine Feature Reporting (2018) and Finalist in Magazine Investigative Reporting (2017) from Hugh Aynesworth Excellence in Journalism, Best Feature Story (2011) from Texas Community Newspaper Association and Best Magazine Feature (2011) from Dallas Bar Association Philbin Awards.
Areas of Expertise:
local government, education, civic issues, investigative and enterprise reporting
Location Expertise:
Dallas, Texas
Official Title:
Founder + executive director
Email Address:
keri@dallasfreepress.com
