Voting from your car in July’s election won’t be quick, Tarrant County officials warn
There is a way to vote in the July 14 election that doesn’t require you to go inside a polling place or ask for a mail-in ballot.
It’s called curbside voting.
It’s an option any voter can use to cast a ballot, although it’s designed for those who have a hard time walking or standing — whether from age or disability or even something like a recent knee surgery.
And in these days of coronavirus, state and local officials suggest anyone with COVID-19 symptoms may want to consider curbside voting, so they can stay in their car and cast their ballot from there.
But election officials stress one thing about curbside voting, which is available during early voting and on Election Day.
“It is not drive through voting,” Tarrant Elections Administrator Heider Garcia said.
In fact, voting curbside may take longer than going inside to vote.
Election workers have to come out with a poll book, find that you are a registered voter and get you to sign the electronic book. Then they have to go back inside, get your ballot and bring out the equipment for you to cast your ballot.
“I definitely wouldn’t want to encourage people to massively do curbside,” Garcia said. “Because what you’re going to have is a line of cars outside. It is not meant for that.
“It’s meant for a small percentage of the population that needs it.”
But this option, which has been in place for years, may well give some Texans who otherwise wouldn’t cast a ballot the chance to vote, said Matthew Eshbaugh-Soha, who heads the political science department at the University of North Texas.
“Not everyone will feel compelled to do so, as many will feel comfortable going inside,” he said. “Yet, for those who are determined to vote, this may be a good option.”
COVID options
The Texas Secretary of State’s Office recommends that people check themselves for coronavirus symptoms before they head to the polls during early voting, which runs from June 29 to July 10, or on the July 14 Election Day.
Anyone with symptoms such as a cough, chills, loss of taste or smell or a fever above 100 degrees should consider not going inside the polling site and use curbside voting, according to a health protocol released by the Secretary of State’s Office.
For those people, “it makes more sense if you vote curbside,” Garcia said. “Stay in your car. We will bring the whole thing out.”
“In a time of disease like this COVID-19, reasonable accommodations to reduce the possibility of its spread seems wise,” said Jim Riddlesperger, a political science professor at TCU.
Here’s a look at what will be on the July 14 runoff and local election ballot in Tarrant County.
▪ Democrats will choose between Mary “MJ” Hegar and Royce West for U.S. Senate; Kim Olson and Candace Valenzuela for U.S. Rep. District 24; Roberto R. “Beto” Alonzo and Chrysta Castañeda for Railroad Commissioner; and John Wright and Petro “Pete” Munoz for County Constable Precinct 5.
▪ Republicans will choose between: Elizabeth Beach and Brian Walker for the 2nd Court of Appeals District Place 7 and Jonathan Grummer and John Brieger for Precinct Chair 3990.
▪ Fort Worth residents will vote whether to continue the Fort Worth Crime Control and Prevention District sales tax for 10 years.
Sample ballots can be found on the Tarrant County Elections website.
For more election information, call the Tarrant Elections Office at 817-831-8683.
