The Primary Election is March 2, 2010. Why is it important to vote in the primary elections?

1. What is a primary election?

• A primary election is a preliminary election that is held every two years in which voters choose their nominee in each district to represent their Party on the General Election ballot in November.

2. Who can vote in the primary election?

• Everyone who is registered to vote in Bexar County by February 1 is eligible to vote in the Primary. In Texas, the Primary is semi-closed. Voters do not register by Party when they apply to vote. However, they must choose which Party’s ballot on which they want to vote in the Primary election.

3. When is the primary election?

• Election Day is Tuesday, March 2, 2010. Early voting is from Tuesday, February 16 to Friday, February 26. See www.bexar.org/elections for details.

4. Where is the primary election?

• Voters must vote at the polling location in their neighborhood on Election Day, such as Shavano Park City Hall. They may vote at any early voting location in Bexar County prior to Election Day.

5. Why is it important to vote in the Primary Election?

• This is an extraordinary opportunity for the general public to participate in the election process. In other countries, the government or the political party organizations usually have the responsibility.

6. What is a precinct convention?

• The purpose is to elect delegates and alternate delegates to attend the next level in the political process, which is the Senatorial District (SD) Convention. Participants will also propose resolutions for the SD Convention to consider. The Senatorial District Convention is an all day event scheduled for Saturday, March 20. The locations and times vary, although they are usually held in a location such as the Blossom Athletic Center. Delegates at the SD Convention then elect delegates for the State Convention.

7. Who should participate in the precinct convention?

• Anyone who voted in the Primary is eligible to attend their Party’s convention. Therefore, the convention is closed because voting is a prerequisite to participation.

8. When is the precinct convention?

• 7:30 pm or after the last voter has voted.

9. Where is the precinct convention?

• At the voter’s polling location.

10. Why is it important to participate in the precinct convention?

• Voters get a chance to be heard twice.

11. What are dates to put on the calendar?

• 02/16/10 – Early Voting Begins
• 02/26/10 – Early voting ends
• 03/02/10 – Primary Election Day

This information contributed to the SATP Website by –

Etta Fanning

Dagne Florine