Election primaries draw more partisan voters, resulting in candidates on the ballot for the general election who do not necessarily represent the mainstream. Once elected, these officials find it difficult to find common ground to move the legislative agenda forward. This aggravates political polarization and reinforces partisan gridlock.
To reflect broader representation in our elected officials, more mainstream voters need to participate in party primaries. Texas needs leaders who reflect the entire spectrum of ideologies and will work across the aisle to make the Legislature and other government offices more functional.
If you are an eligible voter, I urge you to cast a ballot, even if you don’t strongly identify with a political party. You should carefully consider the candidate choices and participate in one of the primaries (or conventions for the Libertarian and Green parties).
In the upcoming March 1 joint primary election for the Democratic and Republican parties, each party will choose its candidates for several important statewide seats, including governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general. Republicans and Democrats will also choose their candidates to face off in November for district-based congressional and legislative offices, the State Board of Education, judicial seats and county offices, including county judge, commissioners and various courts.
Texas is a state with open primaries, allowing voters to cast their ballots in either party’s primary without prior registration with the party. The party that voters choose for the primary election does not register the voter with that party. However, in the case of a runoff election, the voter will get the ballot for the party the voter chose in the primary election.
To help you make informed choices, the League of Women’s Voters’ nonpartisan Voters Guide, which includes early voting sites and responses by candidates to important questions, is available in public libraries throughout Bexar County. The guide covers down-ballot candidates who are often unfamiliar to voters.
You can access the electronic Voters Guide at
VOTE411.org to see responses to additional questions and responses from candidates who missed the print deadline. You can compare the candidates on your customized ballot, mark your choice and print the list to take with you to the poll, making voting more efficient and safer, given the pandemic.
Being prepared with voting choices will allow those casting a ballot in person to be in and out of the polling place in less time.
This is the first election being conducted after the state’s voting restrictions law was enacted last year. The new law and new procedures are creating confusion, especially for voters who opt to vote by mail. The league website,
lwvsa.org, is a comprehensive nonpartisan resource to guide you through this process.
The League of Women Voters of the San Antonio Area envisions a democracy where every person has the desire, right, knowledge and the confidence to participate. There’s so much at stake in this election.
Early voting runs through Feb. 25, and the election is on March 1. You can vote at any polling place in the county.
Let’s make democracy work for all of us — get out and vote!
Madhu Sridhar is the president of the nonpartisan League of Women Voters of the San Antonio Area.
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