The Countdown to the 2026 Midterms Is Underway, with Voter Registration, Early Voting and Turnout Taking on Increased Importance as Election Day Approaches
Texas has long proclaimed, “Don’t Mess With Texas.” But when civil and human rights are at stake, voters must do exactly that: mess with Texas at the ballot box and make their voices impossible to ignore.
The upcoming midterm elections are now within forty-seven days, along with an Early Voting period of eleven days, from October 19th to October 30th. The deadline to register for the General Election is October 5th, as voters must be registered thirty days before an election.
Concerns Over Election Interference
The atmosphere surrounding the 2026 midterm elections is highly charged with what many sources have described as “interference” by the Administration, leading to what I see as chaos and corruption. It’s not just a repeat storyline considering that there are additional ways this administration is trying to rig the midterm elections, in an effort to remain in power.
Disinformation And Misinformation
Much of the focus has been on the “twins of disinformation and misinformation” in hopes of sowing chaos and confusion, while thinking their usage will discourage voters from going to the polls.
The Fight Over Mail-In Ballots
One of the largest efforts has been the push to eliminate mail-in ballots, to institute a rule, crafted by the USPS, that would allow the agency to only send mail-in ballots to states that have provided their voter rolls to the federal government. The litigation, seeking to halt the implementation of that system, remains ongoing.
The best response to the foregoing efforts should be a focus on VOTER turnout at every stage of the elections.
Vote Early And In Person
Vote Early and in person wherever possible. Give yourself plenty of time. If your name shows up on a suspense list, request to complete a “Statement of Residence”, which will confirm your old address or where you may currently reside.
Voting By Mail
If the mail-in voting process appears risky, find a drop-off box. These locations are set to be available during Early Voting and on Election Day. Make sure to plan to VOTE – no matter what! Here’s where organizing comes into play. I believe there are churches and community-based organizations that will be engaged in providing transportation to the polls.
Be wary of “naysayers” who are practicing the art of “criticizing the Democrats” as another way to influence voters, hoping this will lead some voters to choose to skip casting their vote.
Questions Surround VoteSafe.org
A surprise to some is the launch by Elon Musk of the website VoteSafe.org, which reportedly “mimics vote.gov” while seeking to acquire all of a voter’s information, for some nefarious purpose, and claiming the purpose is to register people to vote!
Voters Have The Last Word
There appears to be some pushback from voters to the GOP’s multiple attempts to hold on to power, no matter how they accomplish it. The mid-decade gerrymandering of some congressional districts could backfire, as there may be Democratic candidates who could become the winners! To register to vote visit votetexas.gov
As always, I say that the voters have the last word, especially on Election Day! Your Vote Is Your Voice – Don’t Let Your Voice Be Silenced!
A favorite adage of mine is:
“Encouragement Is Free – the Effect It Has on Others: Priceless!”
