Shallowater, Texas Public Records

Texas residents can begin the voter registration process online at www.votetexas.gov through the Secretary of State's website, though the system generates a form that must be printed, signed, and mailed to the Lubbock County elections office. Registration applications are also available at the Lubbock County office, public libraries, and various government offices throughout the area. The deadline falls 30 days before any election. When voting, Texas requires one of seven acceptable forms of photo identification: Texas driver license, Texas election identification certificate, Texas personal ID card, U.S. Passport, military ID, citizenship certificate with photo, or license to carry handgun. Municipal elections for mayor and city council positions in Shallowater typically occur in May of odd-numbered years under Texas Election Code provisions. Information about local candidates, ballot measures, and city election results can be obtained from Shallowater City Hall at 806-832-4523 or through notices published according to Texas Open Meetings Act requirements. Finding your assigned polling place is straightforward. Residents can visit www.votetexas.gov and use the "Am I Registered?" tool, which displays both voter registration status and polling location, or simply contact the Lubbock County elections office directly. Early voting for county and state elections runs for approximately two weeks before election day at multiple locations throughout Lubbock County, including the main elections office. The Texas Public Information Act makes numerous election records publicly accessible. Voter registration lists can be purchased from the county for legitimate purposes, while individual voter history, showing which elections a person voted in, but never how they voted, requires specific justification to obtain. Campaign finance reports for local, county, and state candidates are public records searchable through the Texas Ethics Commission at www.ethics.state.tx.us. Candidate filing information and precinct-level election results are available through the Lubbock County elections office and typically posted online after each election. The gubernatorial election tops the ballot, as Texas elects its governor to four-year terms in midterm years. All statewide executive offices will be up for election, including Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and other officials. One U.S. Voters will elect their U.S. Representative for their congressional district (Shallowater currently falls in Texas Congressional District 19), along with their Texas State Senator and State Representative. On the Lubbock County level, races will include County Judge, County Commissioners for precincts whose terms expire, Sheriff, County Clerk, District Clerk, Tax Assessor-Collector, and potentially county court judges and justices of the peace depending on term schedules. Any city propositions or charter amendments for Shallowater, if scheduled for November rather than the usual May election, would also appear on the ballot. Texas maintains very limited mail-in voting, restricting it to voters 65 and older, voters with disabilities, voters confined in jail but otherwise eligible, or voters who will be absent from the county during the entire early voting period and election day. Applications for mail-in ballots must be submitted to the Lubbock County Elections Office and received - not just postmarked - by the 11th day before election day. Completed ballots must be received by 7:00 PM on election day or postmarked by election day and received by the following day. Most voters in the state cast their ballots either during the early voting period or on election day at their assigned polling place.