With elections underway, some voters feel unaware of details and positions on the ballot.
Marisa Martinez, an education graduate from Texas A&M University-San Antonio, walked around with a friend Feb. 21 at the polling location on campus.
She was puzzled looking at a voter guide, even asking her friend what some of the positions meant. Martinez said she has never voted before.
“I looked up a sample ballot online, and I had no idea what half of the stuff on it meant,” Martinez said. “Like, what’s a justice of the peace? They keep the peace? Have a magic hat? Or what?”
A polling station located on the first floor of the Science and Technology Building near the Mays Center is open to students, faculty, staff and the public. Voting will take place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 3. Visitors can park in Lot 2A.
A polling station located on the first floor of the Science and Technology Building near the Mays Center is open to students, faculty, staff and the public. Voting will take place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 3. Visitors can park in Lot 2A.
MOVE Texas, a non-profit organization assisting young voters to understand and make the connection between what they stand for, and the voice they have in impacting change in regards to voting, were on campus Feb. 26 to help students.
“A lot of people, when they think of voting in the primaries, they’re thinking about who’s going to run for president, maybe who’s going to run for senate,” Jonathan Gutierrez, the San Antonio field organizer for MOVE Texas, said. “But that is only like 10% of the actual ballot, and so taking again the time to go to look up resources like the League of Women Voters voter guide who has a really extensive background on those judicial candidates is incredibly helpful.”
Dylan Villalon, a field organizer intern for MOVE Texas, was tabling and answering student questions outside the Central Academic Building.
“My advice would be, you know, poke around candidates websites,” Villalon said. “You know… maybe pick an issue that’s particular to you and then just search up a candidate and figure out what their stance is on that issue.”
Villalon encourages students to avoid taking other people’s words for their own. He said students should research on their own and cast a vote based on what they believe to be right. He and the other MOVE Texas representatives noted that most polling stations provide voter guides.
MOVE Texas and The Mesquite staff researched to help explain the roles of five elected officials:
Justice of the peace
The duties of the justice of the peace include presiding over cases including misdemeanors, small civil disputes, and landlord and tenant disputes, according to the Texas Association of Counties.
County commissioner
County commissioners make budget and policy decisions regarding roads and bridges within their precinct. The commissioner’s court is composed of four elected officials who serve along the county judge.
Railroad commissioner
There are three railroad commissioners that are elected to compose the Railroad Commission of Texas. Each commissioner works to regulate pipeline transporters, natural gas utilities, the oil and natural gas industry, natural gas and liquid pipeline industry, the LP-gas industry, and coal and uranium surface mining operations, according to the Railroad Commission of Texas website.
City council member
According to The Balance Careers website, city council members represent constituents in their district in municipal affairs. Together, they propose, pass and ratify laws and ordinances, manage budgets, and investigate city affairs when necessary
Judge
A judge’s responsibilities are to preside over a courtroom, hear evidence, make decisions on motions, instruct juries and make rulings, and assure that the law is enforced in rulings, according to MightyRecruiter.com.
Voters can visit https://www.bexar.org/1568/Elections-Department to check their registration, find their individual sample ballot and nearby polling locations.
Psychology senior Breanna Hudson held the voter guide in her hand feeling both eager to vote and overwhelmed.
“This is my first time voting and it’s kind of scary,” Hudson said after she finished voting on campus. “I never really voted because I didn’t think my vote really mattered. But this past year I have really gotten into politics, and I just want my voice to be heard.”
The League of Women Voters is an official resource recommended by MOVE Texas which provides non-partisan voter guides covering national and local races, Gutierrez said.
Gutierrez said these resources alleviate stress to guide people to narrow down candidates that align with their beliefs.
Martinez has always felt overwhelmed when it comes to voting.
“I just stopped by to see what this all entailed, I guess,” Martinez said. “I don’t know if I’m going to vote anyway ‘cause I really don’t know how to.”
Gutierrez shared some advice for student voters and how to be confident in voting.
“I would say as young voters we have a lot of issues at stake for us in these elections — everything from student loans, to the environment and we would say that there are people that are going to be voting that don’t share our same desire to see action on these issues,” Gutierrez said. “And so for those reasons, it’s really important to go out and vote because we know that other people are going to be out voting, so we’ve go to make noise about the issues that are important to us.”
Brittany Pichler and Liandre De la Uso contributed to this story.
