The Bandera County Unit of the Hill Country League of Women Voters, along with the Medina Public Library, sponsored a Voter101 session Wednesday, Aug. 26, at the Rodney Camp Pavilion in Medina.
Heather Farmer, the Hill Country League’s youth voter and voter education officer, conducted the session.
Farmer is a retired English teacher who served in Northeast ISD for 30 years.
The audience was composed primarily of homeschool students, with three other adults attending.
Four members of the Bandera County Unit also attended, along with Medina librarian Alison Harbour, who provided snacks for the group.
Farmer began with background information on voting and the different sections of the voter registration card.
She used a voter quiz developed by the Montgomery County League to test the audience’s knowledge.
Even though the presentation focused on new or young voters, it was evident that experienced voters could learn a great deal as well.
Comparing voting patterns across the United States with those in Texas was an intriguing part of the presentation.
Farmer compared Texans’ voting percentages with those in Bandera County.
Her data showed that 71% of registered voters in Bandera County voted in the last election.
Heather Farmer, the Hill Country League of Women Voters’ youth voter and voter education officer, leads a Voter101 presentation Wednesday, Aug. 26, at the Rodney Camp Pavilion in Medina. Farmer discussed voter registration, elections, voting rights and the voting process with attendees. BULLETIN PHOTO/ Tracy Thayer
Farmer also discussed why presidential and midterm elections showed vastly different statistics.
Farmer reviewed the rules governing how firsttime voters can register. She said that if a teen is 17 years and 10 months old and will be 18 on Election Day, they can register to vote in their first election.
She also noted that the 18- to 24-year-old age group was the least likely to vote in any election. Water issues in the Hill Country were a critical factor that prompted older voters to participate in elections.
The timeline for the election process was discussed, including the purpose of primary elections, runoff elections and the general election.
Farmer made sure to include all political parties recognized by the state of Texas — Democrats, the Green Party, Libertarians and Republicans. She also explained how independent candidates secure spots on the ballot.
Farmer reviewed the types of identification needed to vote in Texas. She went over Texas voters’ rights, as well as things that are not allowed at the polls, such as any type of political advertising.
She also presented the process needed to vote by mail, as well as how to use curbside voting in the case of a disability.
The audience left the presentation with “swag bags” containing stickers and information sheets for new voters.
Even though the presentation was geared toward new voters, veteran voters could learn a lot about the process as well. Farmer recommended that participants visit Vote411. org, a site created by the League to provide more information.
The next Voter101 presentation will be held at the Kronkosky Public Library in Bandera on Wednesday, Oct. 7, in the downstairs meeting room.
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan organization whose mission is to empower voters and defend democracy.
The Bandera County Unit of the Hill Country League of Women Voters meets quarterly at the Hens’ Nest in Bandera. For more information, contact Cathy Learoyd, Bandera Unit chair.
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