Did you know that Tuesday, September 28, is National Voter Registration Day? National Voter Registration Day aims to make sure no one who wants to cast a ballot misses the opportunity due to a registration problem. 

IDEA is excited to celebrate National Voter Registration Day for the second time. You might have heard about our #IDEAVotes campaign, which we kicked off during the last school year. With the support of our Team & Family, we were able to register over 30,000 new voters in Texas and Louisiana!  

This year, IDEA plans to continue the campaign by offering safe, in-person voter registration opportunities in all our regions to ensure that all eligible staff members, students, parents and alumni can make their voices heard through voting during every election cycle. Reach out to Ruben De Los Santos, IDEA’s Texas Family Organizer, at ruben.delossantos@ideapublicschools.org for more information. 

Voting is the single most effective way to make your voice heard as a member of our society. When we all vote, we serve as role models for our students, so they become voters and pursue lives of active citizenship. We hope you will join the IDEA Team & Family by registering to vote and encouraging friends and family to register TODAY!  

The deadline to register to vote for the 2022 primaries in Texas, Louisiana, and Florida are: 

• Texas March 2022 Deadline: January 31, 2022 
• Louisiana March 2022 Deadline: February 23, 2022 
• Florida August 2022 Deadline: July 25, 2022 

 

It’s important to make sure that you are ready and registered to vote during every election cycle. If you have recently moved, you might need to update your registration. Confirm your registration status at vote.org and, if needed, update your registration. 

Ready to take the next step? Once you are registered or have confirmed your registration, please send this blog to three friends. Our family, friends and neighbors need encouragement to register and exercise their rights as voters! Are you more excited to ensure we have safe, fair, and accessible elections for all voters? Sign up to be a poll worker OR join the IDEA Votes campaign to help your Team & Family register to vote.  

 

Frequently Asked Questions: Eligibility, Identification & Voting By Mail 

Q: Am I eligible to vote? 

You are eligible to vote if you:  

• Are a United States citizen; and 
• Are a resident of the county where you submit the application; and 
• Are at least 17 years and 10 months old, and you are 18 years of age on Election Day 

 

Some additional restrictions may be applicable in rare cases. 

 

Q: Can I register to vote online? 

In Texas, you can register to vote: 

• In-Person with a Voter Deputy Registrar or at your Local County Office 
• By Mail by requesting a voter registration form 

 

In Louisiana, you can register to vote: 

• Online at the Louisiana Registration website 
• In-Person at any voter registration office  

 

In Florida, you can register to vote: 

• Online at the Florida Online Voter Registration System 
• In person by filling out a paper application at any county Supervisor of Elections office 

 

Q: What sort of identification do I need to vote? 

For Texas residents: 

You’ll need ONE of the following forms of ID:  

• Texas Driver License issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) 
• Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS 
• Texas Personal Identification Card issued by DPS 
• Texas Handgun License issued by DPS 
• United States Military Identification Card containing the person’s photograph 
• United States Citizenship Certificate containing the person’s photograph 
• United States Passport (book or card) 

 

If you do not have one of the above listed forms of identification, you can apply for a Reasonable Impediment Declaration with ONE of the following:  

• Copy or original of a government document that shows the voter’s name and an address, including the voter’s voter registration certificate; 
• Copy of or original current utility bill; 
• Copy of or original bank statement; 
• Copy of or original government check; 
• Copy of or original paycheck; or 
• Copy of or original of (a) a certified domestic (from a U.S. state or territory) birth certificate or (b) a document confirming birth admissible in a court of law which establishes the voter’s identity (which may include a foreign birth document) 

 

For Louisiana residents: 

You’ll need ONE of the following forms of ID: 

• Louisiana driver’s license; 
• Louisiana Special ID; 
• LA Wallet digital driver’s license;  
• United States Military Identification Card that contains the applicant’s name and picture; or 
• Some other generally recognized picture ID that contains your name and signature (e.g. a US Passport). 

 

If you do not have a driver’s license, Louisiana Special ID, a United States military identification card that contains the applicant’s name and picture or some other generally recognized picture ID that contains your name and signature, you may still cast your vote by signature on a voter affidavit. 

 

For Florida residents: 

You’ll need ONE of the following forms of ID: 

• Florida driver’s license 
• Florida ID card 
• U.S. passport 
• Debit or credit card 
• Military ID 
• Student ID 
• Retirement center ID 
• Neighborhood association ID 
• Public assistance ID 
• Veteran health ID card 
• License to carry a concealed weapon or firearm 
• Employee ID card issued by the federal government, the state of Florida, or any county or municipality 

 

If your ID does not contain your signature, then you need to bring another ID that contains your signature. 

In any other state, visit vote.org to check your eligibility and learn about acceptable forms of ID in your state. 

 

Q: I’m nervous to leave my home for health reasons. Am I eligible to vote by mail? 

You are eligible to vote by mail in Texas if you:  

• Are 65 years or older; or 
• Are disabled; or 
• Are out of the county on election day and during the period for early voting by personal appearance.  

 

Learn more about voting by mail using this guide from the Texas Tribune. Visit the Texas Secretary of State website to request an application to vote by mail.  

 

You are eligible to vote by mail in Louisiana if you: 

• Are in the military or an overseas citizens; 
• Are 65 years or older; 
• Are disabled; 
• Are a student of professor; 
• Are religious clergy; 
• Are a voter who will be temporarily absent during early voting and election day; 
• Are a voter who moved to a new parish more than 100 miles from former residence within 30 days of election; 
• Are a person involuntarily confined to institution; 
• Are a sequestered juror; 
• Are a voter hospitalized or who expect to be hospitalized during early voting and election day; 
• Are a voter employed upon state waters; 
• Are a voter incarcerated for non-felony with sheriff’s certification; and 
• Are a participant in the state’s address confidentiality program. 

 

You are eligible to vote by mail in Florida if you: 

• Under Florida law, all registered voters are permitted to vote by mail and must request a vote-by-mail ballot with your local Supervisor of Elections office no later than 5:00 pm on the 10th day before an election. 
• Contact your local Supervisor of Elections to request a vote-by-mail ballot. 

 

Questions or want to get involved with IDEA Votes, our non-partisan voter participation initiative? Please contact Annemarie Donnelly, assistant director of advocacy, at annemarie.donnelly@ideapublicschools.org. 

*As a public charter school district and 501(c)(3), IDEA Public Schools is non-partisan and does not support or endorse any candidate, political party, or ballot measure.