Tarrant County voters, it's time to mark your calendars and prepare to make your voices heard in the upcoming 2024 elections. Early voting for the primary election kicks off on February 20, rolling through to March 1, with the main event slated for March 5. This year, the Senior Center at the Euless Family Life Center steps up to serve as a polling location, ensuring that your civic duties can be carried out with ease, according to the City of Euless.
Local city elections aren't to be forgotten amid the bustle of state and federal choices. Council Place 5 and Place 6 are the talk of the town, with the battle lines drawn for May 4 - keep that first Saturday in May open. Hopeful candidates had better have thrown their hats in the ring by the February 16 deadline, and not without ensuring they meet the strict eligibility criteria. As decreed by city rules, to qualify, every candidate must have been a resident of the City for at least the past year, be a registered voter as of the filing deadline, and sport a clean record unmarred by a felony conviction.
Looking further ahead into the city's political future, the Elections Office has already penciled in dates for Council Place 1 and Place 3 in 2025, and Mayor, Council Place 2, and Council Place 4 come 2026. But for those to unable to make it to the polls in person, fear not. Tarrant County extends the chance to opt for a ballot by mail under certain conditions, like being out of county, having a disability, being 65 or older, or if you're confined in jail but not finally convicted of a felony. Beginning the process is as simple as filling out the application form provided by the officials.
In Texas, voting isn't a free-for-all – it comes with its requirements, particularly in the ID department. If you're planning on casting your vote in person, you'll need to present a valid form of photo identification. This list hasn't changed since the federal district court's 2016 ruling, allowing options ranging from a Texas driver's license to a U.S. passport. If those photo IDs just happen to be out of reach, a "Reasonable Impediment Declaration" alongside alternative identification could get you through the door. Texan voters must note well: whereas a U.S. citizenship certificate is immune to the ticking clock, other IDs mustn't have experienced the expiration blues for more than four years prior.
