
www.traviscountytax.org
(512) 854-9473
Nelda Wells Spears Main Office: 5501 Airport Blvd.
Travis County Tax Assessor-Collector Austin, TX 78751-1410
& Voter Registrar
Satellite Offices: 4011 McKinney Falls Pky.
15822 Foothill Farms Loop Pflugerville
8656 Highway 71 W Oak Hill
4705 Heflin Lane
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 13, 2010
COUNTY SEEKS TO REGISTER THOSE AGE 18 – 25:
CHALLENGE 10,000!
Austin, Texas----Only 29% of young Travis County citizens age 18 – 25 are registered to vote and officials aim to change that fact starting today. “Challenge 10,000” seeks to collaborate with individuals and groups for the purpose of increasing voter registration among young adults. The goal is 10,000 new voters by October 4, 2010 which is the deadline to register for voting in the November election. The low rate among young adults stands in stark contrast to the overall voter registration rate for Travis County: 95%.
“I encourage all young adults to register and vote, and to make sure their friends do the same,” said Nelda Wells Spears, Voter Registrar. “Voter registration connects the individual to government decision making in a unique way; I believe young voters desire equal participation but need encouragement to get registered and vote.”
Over the next six months, several voter registration drives associated with festivals and other events will target young adults. Other efforts will focus on institutionalizing voter registration in organizations and places popular with young adults.
Challenge 10,000 invites all to download a PARTICIPATION KIT from www.traviscountytax.org/goVotersVDR.do Participants can increase their effectiveness as volunteers by signing up as a Volunteer Deputy Registrar or VDR.
VDRs receive training to register a citizen to vote and accept the application on behalf of the Voter Registrar. VDRs increase effectiveness by catching errors and making sure the application gets to the voter registrar’s office quickly.
Applying to be a voter requires citizenship, age 18, residency in Travis County and a driver’s license or social security number. Applications are on display throughout the county at many post offices, public libraries, grocery stores and online at www.traviscountytax.org . Upon receipt of a completed application, the voter receives a voter certificate by mail within 30 days.
Voters who believe they have registered but are unsure may check their voter registration status online at www.traviscountytax.org The most common error, an outdated residence address, can be corrected easily online if the move was within Travis County at https://www.texasonline.state.tx.us/tolapp/sos/SOSACManager
Others may update address, name or any other part of the voter record by simply completing an application.
For assistance with the Challenge 10,000 effort or any other question regarding voter registration, contact the help line at 854-9473 or click on www.traviscountytax.org
FACT SHEET
1. # OF REGISTERED VOTERS IN TRAVIS COUNTY = 587,151
2. # OF REGISTERED VOTERS IN TRAVIS COUNTY AGE 18 – 25 = 78,885
3. # OF VOLUNTEER DEPUTY REGISTRARS IN TRAVIS COUNTY = 788
4. EVENTS SCHEDULED FOR VOTER DRIVES:
· Galindo Health Fair / Galindo Elementary March 26, 2010
· St. James 5K Run / March 27, 2010
· Turfcats Home Opener / April 12, 2010
· Cinco de Mayo Celebration / Univision / May 2, 2010
· Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Celebration / May 14, 2010
5. PARTICIPANTS IN CHALLENGE 10,000:
· AnotherOptionProduction
· UTVotes
· Organizing for America
· Austin Community College Men of Distinction