As early voting gets underway in Harris County, Teneshia Hudspeth sat down with Que Onda Magazine to discuss what voters need to know before heading to the polls for the May 26 primary runoff election.
Hudspeth shared key dates, explained how runoff elections work in Texas, and encouraged residents to make their voices heard during what she described as a critical election cycle.
What’s Different About the Runoff Election?
Hudspeth explained that runoff elections are much smaller than the March primary elections because most races were already decided.
“In March, you had about 110 to 114 different races,” she said. “Now that you’re in the runoff, there’s only a small amount of races on each ballot because most of those were determined in March.”
She noted that several important contests remain undecided on both party ballots, including statewide and local races.
“By law, if you get 50% plus one of the vote, you move on to the next stage,” Hudspeth explained. “So this is the last opportunity to make your voice heard to determine who those individuals will be on the November ballot.”
Hudspeth also reminded voters that Texans who participated in the March primary must remain with the same political party for the runoff election.
“If you voted the Democratic ticket in March, you have to vote in the Democratic primary runoff,” she said. “If you voted Republican in March, you have to vote in the Republican primary runoff.”
However, residents who did not vote in March may choose either party ballot.
Important Dates and Early Voting Information
Early voting in Harris County began May 18 and runs through May 22. Election Day is Tuesday, May 26, the day after Memorial Day.
Hudspeth encouraged residents planning holiday travel to vote early.
“If you’re going to be traveling during Memorial Day weekend, we encourage you to go vote early,” she said.
Polls are open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. during early voting and on Election Day.
Voters in Harris County can cast their ballots at any vote center countywide during both early voting and Election Day.
“There are 48 vote centers during early voting and more than 100 locations on Election Day,” Hudspeth said.
She encouraged residents to visit Harris Votes to review sample ballots, find polling locations, and prepare before arriving at the polls.
“Know before you go,” she added.
Harris Votes Mobile App Coming Soon
Hudspeth also revealed that the county is preparing to launch a new Harris Votes mobile app ahead of the November general election.
“We’re launching a mobile app in the fall,” she said. “The app is going to be kind of like the map, but even better.”
Accepted Forms of Voter ID
Texas voters are required to present an approved photo ID at the polls. Hudspeth said accepted forms include:
- Texas driver’s license
- Texas identification card
- Texas Election Identification Certificate
- U.S. passport
- Military ID
- Texas handgun license
“If for some reason you don’t have one of those photo IDs, you can fill out what is called a RID form and cure your vote later,” Hudspeth explained.
Why Midterm and Runoff Elections Matter
Hudspeth emphasized that local and midterm elections often have the biggest impact on everyday life.
“These are the elected officials that impact the state of Texas, your county and cities most closely,” she said. “Everything from your school board to your local entities impacts your everyday way of life.”
She also described the current political climate as especially significant heading into November.
“Our country is in a very interesting place,” Hudspeth said. “This midterm election is really going to show what the people care about.”
Resources for Spanish-Speaking and ESL Voters
Hudspeth highlighted the county’s multilingual voting support services, noting that ballots in Harris County are translated into Spanish, Vietnamese, and Chinese.
“Spanish is a second language in Texas,” she said. “You can vote on the ballot with that language.”
She added that translators are available at voting centers and that voters may also bring a trusted family member or friend for assistance, as allowed by law.
Hudspeth praised Que Onda Magazine’s efforts to connect Spanish-speaking communities with election information.
“I think Que Onda is a great platform where voters, specifically voters who speak Spanish, are able to get information from a trusted source,” she said.
A Final Message to Harris County Voters
Before closing the interview, Hudspeth encouraged residents not only to vote but also to participate in the election process as poll workers.
“Don’t just get registered and go vote,” she said. “Maybe sign up and become an election worker. We need more folks to help guard the purity of our elections.”
She added that election workers are compensated for their time and play an important role in ensuring voters can cast ballots “free from intimidation.”
Early voting continues through May 22, with Election Day set for May 26 in Harris County.
For more resources on Harris County elections, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.