Michael Galindo

My first time voting…

Confusion hits as you go through your wallet to figure out which ID you must bring with you to the voting booth. “I looked up what I had to have with me to vote and still wasn’t even sure the day of the election so I brought my registration card and ID just to be safe.”

St. Edward’s graduate Michael Galindo struggles to figure out the strict voter ID laws Texas expects its voters to understand. “Even as a Texas resident I was confused, so I can only imagine how it is for people that are new to Texas or going to school out of state.” 

Allowing for student IDs to be used as an accepted form of identification for voting would help ease this confusion among students.  “Students should be able to use their IDs. It makes no sense to me that you can’t. I don’t see why a handgun license is more valid than a student ID. It would make a huge difference for students,” says Galindo.

Michael’s civics education was not memorable like many his age. “I don’t remember learning anything that would help me with voting. So my first time was confusing and intimidating.” Most voters go through this same confusion when reaching the polls, worried if they have the right identification, right forms, and go in with a cloudy mindset instead of confident on who and what they’re voting on.

“I don’t see why a handgun license is more valid than a student ID. It would make a huge difference for students.”

Getting to the polls…

“I honestly considered not voting in the primaries because I had to go back to Hays County to vote, which was hard for me to find time when I was busy with work and school.” In the 2018 midterms, Hays county was one of the nearly 200 counties in Texas that was not authorized to participate in countywide polling. Countywide polling allows voter to vote at any polling location within their county.

For voters like Galindo, this could mean the difference in being able to vote. Instead of driving all the way to a single precinct in the 680 square mile Hays county, Galindo would have been able to go to the closest polling location in the county. Countywide polling goes beyond simple convenience, it makes polling places truly accessible. When voters are offered more choice in their polling location, they are better able to access the ballot box.

“I think countywide voting would be great. Anything that makes voting simpler is great. Everyone’s got busy schedules whether it’s because of school, work, or family, so it can be hard to find time to research where you can vote, what you need, making time to go, and waiting in line. The more straightforward the process is, the better.”