Vote because the outcome affects where you live. YOUR VOTE COUNTS MORE in municipal elections than in almost any other election.
The last municipal election in 2019 saw less than 16% (at most) of registered voters in Harris County actually vote.1 Turner was forced into a run-off against Tony Buzbee with only 47% of the vote. When this is extended, you see that Turner got less than 7.5% of the electorate (47% of 16%). Presumably he got even fewer votes in the runoff since fewer voters go to those polls.
Your individual vote carries great weight because so few registered voters actually vote in municipal elections! This is especially true for district council member votes.
Houston has a “strong mayor” form of government, unlike other major cities in Texas. Houston’s strong-mayor system is considered especially strong since Houston mayors also have unilateral control over the city council agenda.2
What the mayor wants, the mayor gets.
But you get that.
Mayor Turner wanted to create a legacy “paradigm shift” by installing road diets and bike lanes throughout the city, and he is getting them despite what anyone else wants. That he has been unresponsive to those most affected is an understatement. He is term-limited, so he cares not what we think. He might care if he knew we would re-name 11th Street to Turner’s Folly.
Voters, listen to the candidates, go to the polls and vote! If we do not vote, we deserve what we get.
Here are important dates in this year’s municipal election:
EARLY VOTING starts Monday Oct. 23, and ends Friday Nov. 3.
Monday - Saturday, vote in person 7AM to 7PM.
Sunday Nov. 29, vote in person 12PM to 7PM.
ELECTION DAY is Tuesday Nov. 7. Polls are open 7AM to 7PM.
MAIL-IN BALLOTS - remember to sign the ballot and provide your Driver’s License/Personal ID number!
Last day to apply to for Ballot by Mail is Friday Oct 27, 12:00 am to 11:59 pm. Last day that Harris County Election Administrator’s Office must receive your
Ballot by Mail in official envelope is generally by 7:00 pm Tuesday Nov 7.
For more information, go to https://www.harrisvotes.com/Voter/Vote-by-Mail
A general RUN-OFF is scheduled for Saturday Dec. 9. Expectations are that there will be a run-off, so plan to vote that day as well.
Get your SAMPLE BALLOT at https://www.harrisvotes.com/Voter/Whats-on-my-Ballot
> > > MARK YOUR CALENDAR…PLAN TO VOTE! < < <
1 Alex Samuels and Stephanie Adeline, The Texas Tribune, Nov. 6, 2019 (https://bit.ly/3LOHSHd
2 “Municipal (City) Government,” The CB OERTX, The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board website 10/09/2023 (https://bit.ly/3RKMPVg