Super Tuesday Is Here!
Super Tuesday is upon us! That is the March 5th presidential primary for 14 states across America, including Texas. Far too many people walk into the voting booth with their ballot in hand, wondering to themselves who the names are on the ballot. But the questions arise days before the election: who do I vote for? What does my ballot show? What exactly is the primary? And countless other questions. Let’s answer those for you so you have confidence on election day!
WHO DO I VOTE FOR?
Only you can answer this question. I suggest referring to the Friends & Family list that For Liberty and Justice has published; a list of candidates in Tarrant County, Texas that share our biblical values as an organization. It is NOT an endorsement. Christians ought to vote for candidates whose values and principles align with God’s word (Exodus 18:21). Candidates should have a history of good judgment in political matters, as well as competency for the job.
WHAT DOES MY BALLOT SHOW?
All ballots will show the list of candidates for their respective districts. For example: Tarrant county will have their own local candidates listed, plus the federal candidates. Senator Ted Cruz will be on the ballot for everyone, whereas Representative Nate Schatzline will only be on ballots of voters in House district 93. While Representative Schatzline’s district has a boundary, Senator Ted Cruz represents the whole state, therefore, they will both be on the same ballot. Every ballot will have the district’s local, state, and federal candidates, so do your research and know who is on the ballot so that you are informed on March 5th!
WHAT IS THE PRIMARY?
This question came up at church recently, so I think it behooves me to explain what the primary is. The primary is the election in which candidates from both parties are selected by the voters within their party. Example: Ted Cruz will only be on the republican ballots because he is a republican, therefore, democrats will not be able to vote for Senator Ted Cruz in the Texas primary on Tuesday, March 5th, only republicans can. In the general election (November 5th), however, every ballot in America will have the winners from both parties contesting for their respective offices; voters from both parties will have the opportunity to vote for the winners of either party. Whoever wins the democratic primary on March 5th will go up against the republican winner in November and vice versa. The primary is the opportunity for voters in each party to select the candidate they believe will best represent their values in public office and have the best chance at defeating the opposition in the general election.
WHAT IS A SAMPLE BALLOT AND WHERE CAN I FIND IT?
A sample ballot is just that, a ballot that is not official (meaning it does not count your vote), but rather a ballot to show you who will be listed on your official voting ballot on election day on Tuesday. Sample ballots can be found pretty easily online, however, I will make it simple for those interested and provide links to three counties in Texas. You can find those links at the end of this article. Keep in mind, each website is different when trying to find your sample ballot. Some websites require you to type in your voter information (name, address, etc) while others just ask for your district. It is up to you to identify what district you are in so you can find the correct ballot.
WHERE DO I VOTE AND WHEN?
Every district has places where voters go to cast their vote. These places are called precincts. Your voting precinct will entirely depend on your address. You should look online to find your voting precinct. You can type in your county name, followed by “voting precincts.” That will help you find it. The polls open at 7am and close at 7pm, however, you should confirm that online according to your voting location.