Friday, May 30, 2008
Groups and Information Links
Election Links
First day to apply for ballot by mail Last day to register to vote (for this election) First day of early voting Last day to apply for ballot by mail Last day of early voting General Election | September 5, 2008 October 6, 2008 October 20, 2008 October 28, 2008* October 31, 2008 November 4, 2008 |
* - Ballot by mail application must be received in the Elections Office by this date. |
Know Your Voting Rights Voter Rights Handout (PDF)
Please vote early this year - you'll be glad you did. Early voting starts on Monday October 20th at 7AM and continues until Friday 7PM on October 31st at several convenient locations around Collin County on October 20th 2008.
Please remember to take your Voter's Registration Card with you to the early voting polling place when you vote.
Please DO NOT cut the bar code off of the orange card - election clerks can use the bar code to electronically verify your voter registration status, which makes the voting lines move much faster for everyone!!!
Did you receive your Orange Voter's Registration Card? If you did not receive an orange registration card during 2008 and you have moved or you have not voted in an election in Collin County during the past two years, your voting registration record may have been "suspended." Check your registration status here.
You are eligible to vote with a mail-in ballot if you meet certain conditions that are set by the Secretary of State. In general, you may be eligible if you are disabled, over 65, or if you will be out of Collin County on Election Day and during Early Voting. For specific information and to determine your eligibility, click here to visit the Secretary of State’s web site or click here to visit the Collin County website. To get an application for a mail-in ballot, click here to visit the Secretary of State’s web site, where you can download an application or request that one be mailed to you. See important dates above regarding when your application must be made and your ballot must be received. The authority responsible for mail-in ballot voting in Collin County:
Collin County Elections Department
2010 Redbud Blvd. map
Suite 102
McKinney, TX 75069
Email: | election@collincountytx.gov |
Phone: | 972-547-1990 (McKinney) |
972-424-1460 ext. 1990 (Metro) | |
800-687-8546 (Toll Free) | |
Fax: | 972-547-1914 |
Have you registered to vote yet? The October 6th deadline to register to vote in the fall election is fast approaching! In general, you are eligible to vote in Collin County if you are a United States Citizen, a resident of the county, 18 years old, not a convicted felon and not declared mentally incapacitated. For specific information and to determine your eligibility, click here to visit the Secretary of State’s web site and read the pamphlet on Texas Voting. Check whether you are already registered to vote here and if you are not yet registered to vote, get your Voter's Registration application here.
Note: Your Precinct Number, U.S. Congressional District Number, Texas Legislative District Number and other important information can be found on your 2008 Orange Voter's Registration Card. Did you receive your 2008 Orange Voter's Registration Card? Are you registered to vote? Check your registration card information and voting status here.
Election Day Voting starts at 7AM on November 4th 2008 at 126 election day polling places around Collin County. The polling places will close at 7PM on November 4th.
CollinDems Links
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Poll Greeter Guide
Poll Greeters are outside the 100-foot marker and their activities are not very restricted. They can electioneer, help voters with ballots, wave candidate signs, and help support Democrats in the voting process as long as they stay outside the 100 ft marker of the polling place.
Contact your Political Party’s and or Candidates’ campaign office(s) and ask for the Get Out The Vote (GOTV) or Poll Greeter Coordinator to inquire about a poll greeter assignment.
What to Wear:
People happy to see you there; those who are hostile to you being there; and many people indifferent to you being there
Contact your Political Party’s and or Candidates’ campaign office(s) and ask for the Get Out The Vote (GOTV) or Poll Greeter Coordinator to inquire about a poll greeter assignment.
What to Wear:
- Comfortable layers of clothing as the temperature will change throughout the day.
- Comfortable shoes, because you may be standing for long periods of time.
- Sunscreen, as there is little shade at polling places.
- Bottles of Water and snacks/energy bars
- Extra sunscreen, sunglasses, an umbrella (for shade and rain)
- A book, radio or MP3 player for when there is no voter traffic
- A cell phone (or locate a nearby payphone)
- A folding chair
- Handbook for Election Judges and Clerks
- Election Day phone numbers and web address
- Folding table for Candidate and Party literature
- Candidate and Party literature and signs
People happy to see you there; those who are hostile to you being there; and many people indifferent to you being there
- An election official, a hostile voter or someone from another party may question your presence. While this is rare, be prepared for anything. In addition, ALL greeters, signs and literature must be a specified distance from the entrance to the polling place.
- Voter traffic will fluctuate dramatically. Many tend to vote before or after work. Some arrive during their lunch break or after-school. Typically, there is a lower turnout during non-presidential election years.
- A long but satisfying day. You may leave with more energy than when you started because you made a huge difference.
- To project a positive, enthusiastic attitude;
- To give palm cards or other handouts; and
- To thank arriving people for voting, encourage them to vote for your party or particular candidates and ask if they have any last minute questions.
- Thank departing people for voting too.
- Say “Thank you for voting today, and please vote for these great candidates.”
- If you are alone, do not encage in lengthy discussions of the issues/candidates with people that want to talk. Direct them to the Hospitality Table that you set up that has candidate and or party literature.
- Position yourself next to the main pathway into the polling place, but do not block it. Always make sure you are outside the restricted area.
- Keep smiling, even in the face of hostile people. Remember that you are making a positive difference and there are lot more people grateful that you are there. Your calm and polite response to a hostile voter creates a positive impression of both you and the party.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Friday, May 16, 2008
Voting Info For Sidebar
Please vote early this year - you'll be glad you did. Please remember to take your Voter's Registration Card with you to the early voting polling place when you vote and PLEASE DO NOT cut the bar code off of the orange card - election clerks can use the bar code to electronically verify your voter registration status, which makes the voting lines move much faster for everyone!!!
Did you receive your 2008 Orange Voter's Registration Card? If you did not receive an orange registration card during 2008, your voting registration record may have been "suspended" or "canceled." Check your registration status here. If you are not yet registered to vote, get your Voter's Registration application here.
Note: Your Precinct Number, U.S. Congressional District Number, County Commissioner Precinct Number and other important information can be found on your 2008 Orange Voter's Registration Card.
Full Election Information and Links
Touchscreen Voting: A How to Guide for Collin Co. Early Voters
WhyBarack.com
Check Election Day Polling Places
Democratic Candidates Whose Name Will Appear On Collin County Election Ballots.
Full Election Information and Links
Did you receive your 2008 Orange Voter's Registration Card? If you did not receive an orange registration card during 2008, your voting registration record may have been "suspended" or "canceled." Check your registration status here. If you are not yet registered to vote, get your Voter's Registration application here.
Note: Your Precinct Number, U.S. Congressional District Number, County Commissioner Precinct Number and other important information can be found on your 2008 Orange Voter's Registration Card.
Full Election Information and Links
Touchscreen Voting: A How to Guide for Collin Co. Early Voters
WhyBarack.com
Check Election Day Polling Places
Democratic Candidates Whose Name Will Appear On Collin County Election Ballots.
09/05/08 - First day to apply for ballot by mail 10/06/08 - Last day to register (for this election) 10/20/08 - First day of early voting 10/28/08 - Last day to apply for ballot by mail** 10/31/08 - Last day of early voting 11/04/08 - General Election Day |
** Ballot by mail application must be received in the Elections Office by this date. |
Full Election Information and Links
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Collin County Commissioner's Court
The Texas Constitution vests broad judicial and administrative powers in the position of County Judge, who presides over a five-member Commissioner's Court. Four Commissioners, each elected to a commissioners precinct representing approximately a quarter of the county's population, serve with the Presiding County Judge on the Commissioners Court.
Members of the Collin County Commissioner's Court also serve as Trustees of the Collin County Health Care Foundation, Collin County Housing Finance Corporation, and the Collin County Substance Abuse Foundation.
In addition to assuring that county roads are maintained, commissioners vote with the county judge to set the budget for all county departments and adopt a tax rate. The County Commissioners Court also:
Members of the Collin County Commissioner's Court also serve as Trustees of the Collin County Health Care Foundation, Collin County Housing Finance Corporation, and the Collin County Substance Abuse Foundation.
In addition to assuring that county roads are maintained, commissioners vote with the county judge to set the budget for all county departments and adopt a tax rate. The County Commissioners Court also:
- Sets the yearly property tax rate and approves the budget and employment level for the county;
- Sets commissioners and justice of the peace precinct boundaries;
- Calls, conducts and certifies elections, including bond elections;
- Sets employment and benefit policy;
- Establishes long-range thoroughfare, open space, land use, financial and law enforcement/jail needs plans;
- Acquires property for rights-of-way or other uses determined to be in the public's best interest;
- Reviews and approve subdivision platting and wastewater treatment for rural areas;
- Provides rural ambulance services and subsidizes rural fire protection;
- Oversees the construction, maintenance and improvement of county roads and bridges;
- Appoints non-elected department heads and standing committees;
- Supervises and controls the county courthouse, county buildings and facilities;
- Adopts a county budget;
- Determines county tax rates;
- Fills vacancies in elective and appointive positions; and
- Has exclusive authority to authorize contracts in the name of the county.
U.S. House of Representatives
The boundaries of the 3rd Texas Congressional District and the 4th Texas Congressional District meet in Collin County. Your Congressional District Number can be found on your 2008 Orange Voter's Registration Card within the box titled "Congress."
The 3rd Texas Congressional District includes a large portion of the southwestern corner of Collin County that includes Plano and most of Frisco and McKinney. The 3rd District also encompasses the northeastern corner of Dallas County that includes parts of Richardson, Garland and Dallas.
Collin and Dallas County residents must check their Registration Card to verify their respective congressional district number. Click on the map to enlarge. The 3rd District on the map is shaded in yellow and the 4th District is shaded in pink.
In Collin Co. the 4th Texas Congressional District county. The 4th Texas Congressional District also includes all or parts of Bowie, Camp, Cass, Collin, Delta, Fannin, Farnklin, Grayson, Hopkins, Hunt, Lamar, Morris, Rains, Red River and Rockwall counties.
A Congressional District is an area within a state entitled to elect one "congressional member" to the United States House of Representatives. The United States has a total of 435 Congressional districts and each district has about 570,000 people. The 435 congressional seats are reapportioned within and among the 50 states after each decennial census as prescribed in Section 2, Article I of the Constitution of the United States according to a formula established by the congress.
Texas has 32 U.S. Congressional Districts. The Texas legislature has primary responsibility for "redistricting" the U.S. Congressional Districts within Texas as well as the districts for the Texas State Senate, State House and State Board of Education after each decennial census. The Texas legislature also has the primary role in making changes to state judicial districts. Section 28, Article III of the Texas Constitution requires the legislature to "redistrict" the various governmental jurisdictions during its first regular session following publication of each United States decennial census. For an Interactive Map of Texas U.S. Congressional (110th Congress) districts, plus State House, State Senate and State Board of Education Districts click here.
The U.S. House of Representatives 3rd Congressional District seat is currently held by Republican Sam Johnson.
The 3rd Texas Congressional District includes a large portion of the southwestern corner of Collin County that includes Plano and most of Frisco and McKinney. The 3rd District also encompasses the northeastern corner of Dallas County that includes parts of Richardson, Garland and Dallas.
Collin and Dallas County residents must check their Registration Card to verify their respective congressional district number. Click on the map to enlarge. The 3rd District on the map is shaded in yellow and the 4th District is shaded in pink.
In Collin Co. the 4th Texas Congressional District county. The 4th Texas Congressional District also includes all or parts of Bowie, Camp, Cass, Collin, Delta, Fannin, Farnklin, Grayson, Hopkins, Hunt, Lamar, Morris, Rains, Red River and Rockwall counties.
A Congressional District is an area within a state entitled to elect one "congressional member" to the United States House of Representatives. The United States has a total of 435 Congressional districts and each district has about 570,000 people. The 435 congressional seats are reapportioned within and among the 50 states after each decennial census as prescribed in Section 2, Article I of the Constitution of the United States according to a formula established by the congress.
Texas has 32 U.S. Congressional Districts. The Texas legislature has primary responsibility for "redistricting" the U.S. Congressional Districts within Texas as well as the districts for the Texas State Senate, State House and State Board of Education after each decennial census. The Texas legislature also has the primary role in making changes to state judicial districts. Section 28, Article III of the Texas Constitution requires the legislature to "redistrict" the various governmental jurisdictions during its first regular session following publication of each United States decennial census. For an Interactive Map of Texas U.S. Congressional (110th Congress) districts, plus State House, State Senate and State Board of Education Districts click here.
The U.S. House of Representatives 3rd Congressional District seat is currently held by Republican Sam Johnson.
Mr. Johnson, who will be 78 years old in October 2008, was first elected to the 3rd District House Seat in a special election on May 8, 1991. Johnson has been reelected to the U.S. House Seat in eight regular elections beginning in 1992. The Texas 3rd District House Seat has arguably been one of the deepest red Republican districts in Texas and the United States since 1968 when the Republican Party first took control of the 3rd district House Seat. Johnson ran for reection unopposed by a Democratic Candidate in the 1992, 1994, 1998 and 2004 elections. Johnson has voted against tax incentives for energy conservation and clean/alternative energy development. Johnson also voted to eliminate "critical habitat" for endangered species and to reduce liability for hazardous waste dumping and clean up. Johnson opposes universal health care coverage, supports the privatization of social security and has voted against re-regulating the home mortgage industry. To review Johnson's positions on the issues and his U.S. House of Representatives voting record, click here.The U.S. House of Representatives 4th Congressional District seat is currently held by Republican Ralph Moody Hall.
Mr. Hall, who at 85 years old is the oldest serving member of the House of Representatives, first ran for and won the 4th District House Seat as a self-described "old-time southern conservative Democrat" in the 1980 general election. Hall was reelected to that U.S. House Seat as an "old-time conservative Democrat" in every regular election until 2004 when he switched parties to run as a Republican. Hall switched parties after House Majority Leader Tom DeLay engineered the controversial mid-decade redistricting of Texas in 2003. That mid-decade redistricting of Texas added the northern and eastern portions of Republican strong-hold Collin County to the 4th district. After the switch, the Republican Party allowed Hall to keep his seniority and Hall became chairman of the House Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality. Hall has voted against tax incentives for energy conservation and clean/alternative energy development. Hall also voted to eliminate "critical habitat" for endangered species and to reduce liability for hazardous waste dumping and clean up. Hall opposes universal health care coverage, supports the privatization of social security and has voted against re-regulating the home mortgage industry. To review Hall's positions on the issues and his U.S. House of Representatives voting record, click here.
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