Polling sites and expanded hours approved for early voting this fall

Plans are in place for where and when local folks can vote. Forty-one early-voting sites and 171 Election Day sites for the Nov. 5 election have been approved by Travis County Clerk Dyana Limon-Mercado, the Elections Division and the Commissioners Court. There will be a few changes to voting sites on the University of Texas at Austin campus. UT said the Flawn Academic Center is unavailable because of construction, so after some discussions between the clerk’s office and the university, the Texas Union, which is located next door to the Flawn Academic Center, was decided on as an alternative site. And there will be extended hours for voting at seven sites that will be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on the final two days of early voting:

• Austin Permitting and Development Center
• Ben Hur Shrine
• Carver Branch Library
• Lakeway Activity Center
• Pflugerville Rock Gym
• Southpark Meadows
• UT Union

All other locations will be open during normal voting hours. Below is the early voting schedule:

• 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 21, through Saturday, Oct. 26
• noon-6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27
• 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 28, through Wednesday, Oct. 30
• 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31, through Friday, Nov. 1 (with the seven sites open until 10 p.m.)

“Accessibility for Travis County voters is our top priority as we consider the various factors necessary for selecting polling sites,” the County Clerk’s office wrote in a statement to the media. Limon-Mercado stated, “Ensuring access to the ballot for every voter while upholding federal and state laws is vital to the integrity of our democracy. I extend my sincere thanks to the Commissioners Court for its steadfast support in this critical endeavor, which helps guarantee that all voices are heard and valued.” Voters can find polling locations, a wait time map and voter ID requirements at VoteTravis.com. Personal sample ballots will be available on VoteTravis.com in mid-September.