Absentee voting allows registered voters who will not be able to vote on the date of the election to cast their vote prior to the election.

Absentee voting can be done by a mail-in ballot or may be done in-person at specially designated locations. For more details on whether and how you can use absentee voting, contact your county registrar or election administrator.

LocalVoter offers links to County election office websites where available. Just choose your county from the menu on the top left and find the link in the 'Get Answers' table.

The Agriculture Commissioner regulates weights and measures, manages seed quality, regulates pesticide/herbicide use, and is responsible for the control of harmful plants and pests. 

The Agriculture Commissioner also has responsibility for promoting Texas agriculture. 

The Agriculture Commissioner is elected to four-year terms.

Each of the 14 Texas Courts of Appeals hears appeals from trial court rulings in the civil and criminal courts in its district.  Court of Appeals rulings may be appealed to the Texas Supreme Court.  Appeals courts do not hold trials.  Their decisions are based on attorneys’ arguments and the transcripts of trials held in the lower courts.

Appeals Court Justices are elected to six-year terms.

The Attorney General also directs the state's efforts on behalf of parents to collect unpaid child support.

The Attorney General represents the state in appeals of criminal cases involving the death penalty.

The Attorney General is elected to four-year terms.

The City Controller is the senior financial officer for the city.  The City Controller manages the city’s finances, including bonds, federal funds, and tax revenues, and audits those finances to protect the city from fraud or mismanagement.

Not all cities have an elected controller, but in most that do, the controller is elected to two-year terms.

The City Council is the legislative branch of city government.  The council is the main decision-making body for the city, passing laws and ordinances, setting the city’s budget, and approving the Mayor’s appointments to city executive branch positions. 

There are two types of city council positions, those elected by the voters in the entire city (referred to as ‘at large’ Council Members), and those elected to a specific district representing a specific part of the city.  Both types of officials have the same official duties on the council. 

The Comptroller of Public Accounts is elected to four-year terms.

The County Constables serve process in civil suits in the county and serve as bailiffs in the Justice of the Peace courts.  In some counties, constables may also have patrol duties. 

Constables are elected to four-year terms.

The County Attorney provides legal advice to county officials and, if necessary, represents them when they are involved in legal disputes related to the county. 

In Harris County the County Attorney is also involved in supporting the county’s guardianship programs. 

The County Attorney is elected to a four-year term.

The County Clerk maintains the public records of the county and manages the election process, including training election officials and counting election returns. 

The County Clerk is elected to a four-year term.

County Commissioners are members of the County Commissioners Court.  The Commissioners Court is not a ‘court’ in the usual meaning of the term. It is the main decision making body for the county.  The four County Commissioners are elected from districts each of which make up a specific portion of the county.  The County Judge, who also sits on the Commissioners Court is elected from the entire county at large.

The County Commissioners Court handles planning and administration for the county government, including budget and finance, transportation, law enforcement, environmental protection, hospitals and healthcare, flood control, and other matters. 

County Commissioners are elected to two-year terms.

The county convention is the next step up from the precinct caucus and forms one of the middle layers in the candidate selection process.

Delegates to county conventions are generally selected in the precinct caucuses.  The county convention recommends items to be added or deleted from the party platform and those proposals are passed up to the next layer, the state convention.

In some cases a county convention may even draft its own platform. 

In general, County Courts handle civil, criminal, or probate matters.  In some counties, county courts are divided into categories to deal exclusively with one or more of these types of cases. 

County Civil Courts hear civil suits dealing with less than $5,000 in damages, and also hear appeals from Justice of the Peace Courts. 

County Criminal Courts hear only cases involving misdemeanors. 

County Probate Courts hear cases involving the estates of people who have died or are found to be unable to care for themselves, and issues related to guardianships of those unable to care for themselves. 

County Judges are elected to four-year terms.

The County Judge is a member of the County Commissioners Court, the main decision making body for the county.  The County Judge is the only member of the Commissioners Court who is elected by the voters of the entire county and acts as the main spokesperson for the county government.  The other four members of the Court, referred to as County Commissioners, are elected from districts each of which make up a specific portion of the county. 

The County Commissioners Court handles planning and administration for the county government, including budget and finance, transportation, law enforcement, environmental protection, hospitals and healthcare, flood control, and other matters.

The County Judge is also responsible for emergency planning.  

The County Judge is elected to a two-year term.

The District Attorney is responsible for prosecuting criminal cases, with the exception of municipal court cases (minor felonies and traffic violations).  The District Attorney also makes decisions about which criminal cases should be accepted for prosecution and makes an initial determination of what criminal statutes a defendant will be accused of violating.   

In cases which may involve capital punishment, the District Attorney decides whether to pursue the death penalty. 

The District Attorney is elected to a four-year term.

The District Clerk manages the district court system, maintaining court records, protecting money placed in court care, and distributing child support payments.

The District Clerk is also responsible for managing the jury system for the county’s courts. 

The District Clerk is elected to a four-year term.

In general, District Courts handle civil, criminal, and family cases (including juvenile crimes).  In some counties, district courts are divided into categories to deal exclusively with one or more of these types of cases.  

Civil District Courts hear civil suits dealing with more than $200 in damages.

Criminal District Courts hear only cases involving felonies.  Criminal District Courts hear all trials of cases involving capital punishment. 

Family District Courts hear cases involving divorce, child support/visitation, adoption and other family law matters. 

In some counties there are specially designated Family Juvenile District Courts which deal exclusively with criminal matters involving juveniles and child protection cases brought by the state.

District Court Judges are elected to four-year terms.

The dates when early voting begins and ends, and the location (the location may be different from your voting location for the general election) for early voting are announced by your county election officials.

LocalVoter provides links to this information online where available. Just choose your county from the pull-down menu on the left and look in the "Get Answers" table on the right.

The number of electors each state may send depends on the number of Representatives and Senators they may send to the US Congress. Each of the political parties selects a slate of 'electors'.

The party whose candidate receives the most votes in the election gets to send their slate to the Electoral College. So, no matter how slim the margin of the candidate's victory, they still capture all of the electoral votes from that state, with the exception of Maine and Nebraska, which apportion their votes based on margin.

A filibuster is an effort by a lawmaker to prevent a particular bill from being voted on. The lawmaker or lawmakers can continue speaking on the floor of the Congress or state legislature until the supporters of the bill give up, the lawmaker gives up, or sufficient votes are gathered (more than needed to pass the bill) to force the speaker to end the filibuster.

The Governor is the highest executive officer for the state.  The Governor may sign or veto bills approved by the legislature or allow them to pass into law without signing them.  The Governor appoints members of certain boards and leaders of some state agencies (with approval of the State Senate), and can call the Legislature into special session.

The Governor also has the power to issue pardons, commute state criminal sentences,  grant temporary reprieves to death row inmates, and appoint replacements to fill state elected offices which become vacant between elections. 

The Governor is elected by a statewide vote to a four-year term.

The Inspector of Hides and Animals is elected to two-year terms.

The Iowa Caucus is the first landmark in the campaign for the presidency. In January of a presidential election year Iowa Republicans and Democrats gather in a caucus to determine who the Iowa delegates will support for their party's nomination. It is the first opportunity to determine who might be a front-runner for each party's nomination.

This money can even be spent on campaign advertising so long as it doesn't specifically endorse a candidate.

A typical issue ad might state that it was sponsored by an organization with a name like 'Citizens for Better Bridges'. The ad would be funded by a group opposing a new bridge project, and run an extremely provocative (or even inaccurate) ad against a candidate supporting the bridge project.

These ads frequently run near the end of a campaign when there is little time or money remaining to respond to any distortions or expose the individuals or groups behind the campaign.

One of the provisions of the recent McCain-Feingold Act Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act would prohibit such ads in the 60 days prior to an election. The Act faces a court challenge based on its limits on free speech. If it survives it can be expected to have an impact on this political tactic.

The Justice of the Peace hears small claims lawsuits (less than $5000 in damages) and criminal cases involving Class C misdemeanors.  The Justice of the Peace also handles "Forcible Entry & Detainer" suits which involve rent disputes and evictions. 

Decisions of a Justice of the Peace can be appealed to County Court. 

Justices of the Peace are elected to four-year terms.

The Land Commissioner manages the General Land Office.  The General Land office supervises Texas’ public lands, collects income from public lands assigned to the Permanent School Fund, and manages the state’s response to oil spills in state waters. 

The General Land Office is also involved in other aspects of land management, including preserving records on original Texas land grants, and certain activities related to natural resource conservation and and the protection of coastal land. 

The Land Commissioner is elected to four-year terms.

The Lieutenant Governor also assumes the role of Governor if the Governor is unable to serve or is not in the state.  This officer is elected in a statewide election and serves a four-year term.

Although many people view lobbyists with some suspicion, they play an important role in informing legislators and other officials on important legislation.

The Mayor is the senior executive officer for the city.  The Mayor is responsible for the general management of the City and for enforcement of laws and ordinances.

The Mayor appoints city staff, with Council approval, and signs motions, resolutions and ordinances passed by City Council.  

The Mayor is also a voting participant on the City Council.

The Republican and Democratic parties each hold their national convention in late summer of a presidential election year. 

In the past, the parties selected their candidates for the presidency at these conventions.  However, with the growth of the primary system over the past fifty years the nominees are already clear long before the convention. 

Now the conventions are the forum for debating the party platform, and a massive pep rally for the candidates.

Recommended 'planks' in the platform are filtered up from the local precinct caucuses, through the county and state conventions, and up to the national platform committee. Candidates from the parties are not strictly required to follow the party platform.

Some county and state branches of the main political parties will craft their own local platforms which may deviate from the national platform

Political parties usually base their activities around a set of positions, summarized in a Party Platform. Political parties nominate candidates for office and support their campaigns with volunteers, advice, funding, and advertising.

Parties' standards for membership vary, but are generally very open. One may usually participate in a political party without making a financial contribution.

Most of American political life is dominated by the two main parties, the Republicans and the Democrats. Some of the more popular small parties are the Green Party, Libertarian Party, and the Socialist Party. None of the federal elected representatives are currently members of the smaller parties, but a handful have no party affiliation.

To find out more about political parties, visit the parties' websites. LocalVoter contains links to each of the national parties on its home page. You can visit websites for your local political parties (where available) by selecting your county from the menu on the left and choosing the party from your local page

The meeting is presided over by a precinct chairman. The caucus can propose and vote on platform 'planks' to be submitted to the county convention and selects representatives to attend the county convention. Anyone who voted in the party's primary can attend the precinct caucus for that party.

The precinct caucus is a great starting point for anyone looking to get more involved in politics.

The precinct chairman also functions as the party representative at the grass-roots level, organizing neighborhood functions, supporting the party's candidates, attending the county convention, and coordinating the party agenda for the precinct.

A precinct chairman is elected in the party's primary election.

The two main political parties, the Republicans and the Democrats, use primary elections to select the candidates that will represent their party in the general election. Any registered voter can vote in a primary, regardless of their formal party affiliation.

Push Polls are a political tactic that involves wording poll questions in a way that is intended to influence and persuade the voter.

For example, a poll conducted by supporters of Joe Challenger might ask a prospective voter whether they favored Joe Challenger or Fred Incumbent in an upcoming election. If the voter responds that they favor Fred Incumbent, the caller might then ask the voter whether their opinion would change if they knew that Fred Incumbent favored letting criminals run free, cutting off support for elderly penniless veterans, dumping garbage in the river, etc.

Fred Incumbent might or might not in fact hold any of these positions, and the pollster for Joe Candidate won't specifically claim that he does, but the voter is left with that impression.

The Railroad Commission is a board of three Commissioners.  Its primary responsibility is regulation of the oil and gas industry and surface mining. 

The Commissioners are elected to overlapping six-year terms.

LocalVoter provides links to the website of your local registrar where available. Just choose your location and county from the menu on the left, then choose the link from the "Get Answers" table on the right.

Only the top two candidates from the general election compete in the runoff.

The Trustees hold public meetings at regularly scheduled times where they conduct school district business, hear from members of the public, and vote on proposals. 

Trustees may be elected from specific districts or may serve 'at large' depending on local rules.  Trustees usually serve four-year terms.

The Sheriff participates in law enforcement and supports the criminal courts.  The Sheriff provides bailiffs for District Courts and collects forfeitures.  The Sheriff is also responsible for police protection of unincorporated areas of a county. 

The Sheriff is elected to four-year terms.

 Money raised under this loophole has come to be called 'Soft Money'. In the 2001-2002 election cycle the Republican and Democratic parties raised more than $1billion combined in soft money.

The McCain-Feingold Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act was designed to limit such contributions and may, if it survives court challenge, lead to some dramatic changes in the way political campaigns are funded.

The State Board of Education is responsible for managing the education system in the state.  This includes, with some limitations, approving textbooks, setting curriculum and testing requirements, setting teacher certification standards, and managing the permanent education fund. 

Members of the State Board of Education are elected to four-year terms.

State Representatives represent a specific district in the Texas House of Representatives.  The House of Representatives is the lower House of the Legislature consisting of 150 representatives. 

The Legislature is the lawmaking body for the State of Texas. 

The State House of Representatives is presided over by the Speaker of the House, who is elected by the Legislature from among its members.  The Speaker of the House appoints committee members, presides over debates on the floor of the House, and determine the order in which bill are considered on the House floor. 

Since the Speaker of the House is a member of the House of Representatives, he may vote in all matters. 

Bills which are approved by the House of Representatives are sent to the State Senate for approval.  If the Senate approves a bill without change it is sent to the Governor who may either sign it into law or veto the bill.  The Legislature may overcome a veto by a two-thirds vote. 

State Representatives are elected to two-year terms.

State Senators represent a specific district in the State Senate.  The State Senate is the upper House of the Legislature, consisting of 31 members. 

Bills which are approved by the Senate and the House of Representatives are sent to the Governor who may either sign it into law or veto the bill.  The Legislature may overcome a veto by a two-thirds vote. 

State Senators are elected to four-year terms.

The effect of Super Tuesday has been to create an almost national election very early in the primary season. As a result, any presidential candidate who cannot raise enough money to compete nationwide by March is unlikely to survive long enough to compete in the remaining states' primaries or caucuses.

The Tax Assessor-Collector is responsible for managing the county’s tax system.  This includes collecting real estate, motor vehicle, motel/hotel, and other taxes and fees. 

In some counties, including Harris County, the Tax Assessor-Collector also handles voter registration. 

The Tax Assessor-Collector is elected to a four-year term.

In cases involving capital punishment, the Court of Criminal Appeals hears appeals directly from the trial court.  In other criminal matters, the Court of Criminal Appeals hears selected cases which are appealed from the Courts of Appeals.

Cases involving crimes committed by juveniles are appealed through the civil justice system and are not heard by the Court of Criminal Appeals.

The Court of Criminal Appeals sets the rules of practice and evidence for the state criminal court system.

The Court of Criminal Appeals is composed of a Presiding Judge and eight justices.

Justices on the Court of Criminal Appeals are elected to six-year terms.

The Texas Supreme Court hears selected cases on appeal from the Courts of Appeals.  The Supreme Court also sets the rules or practice and evidence for the state's civil courts.

The Texas Supreme Court is composed of a Chief Justice and eight justices.

Justices on the Texas Supreme Court are elected to six-year terms.

The President appoints federal judges, including US Supreme Court Justices, and senior executive branch officials with the approval of the US Senate.

As the leader of the nation's military, the President is responsible for directing US forces.  However, the constitution reserves the right to declare war exclusively to Congress. 

The President manages the nation's relationships with foreign governments and negotiates treaties.  Treaties signed by the President do not become law until approved by the Senate.

Although he has no vote in Congress, The President can proposed a bill for consideration and has the power to veto bills approved by Congress.  Congress can override a President's veto by a 2/3 vote.

The President has the power to pardon or reduce the sentence of those guilty of federal crimes.

Technically, the President is elected by a body called the Electoral College.  Each state sends a group of 'electors' to the Electoral College who in most cases are sworn to vote for the candidate who wins the most votes from their state in the general election.  The number of electors each state may send depends on the number of Congressmen that state has (which depends on population).

In rare cases under this system, a Presidential election can be won by a candidate who does not win the most votes across the nation as a whole, but wins the most votes in enough states to carry the electoral college.

One must have been born a citizen of the US in order to qualify for the office of President.

The US President is elected to four-year terms and is limited to two terms in office.

Every ten years House seats are reassigned based on census results through a process called reapportionment.

All tax laws must begin in the House of Representatives.  The House also has the sole authority to start impeachment proceedings against a federal official.  Although the House can vote for impeachment, the Senate must conduct the impeachment trial.

US House Representatives are elected to two-year terms.

The voters of each state elect two members of the U.S. Senate, for a total of 100.  The U.S. Senate is the upper house of the U.S. Congress.  In addition to its lawmaking responsibilities, the U.S. Senate has the authority to approve the President’s appointments to executive branch positions and federal judges, including the U.S. Supreme Court. 

U.S. Senate also has the authority to approve or reject international treaties signed by the President. 

In the event that the U.S. House of Representatives votes to refer a federal officer for impeachment, the U.S. Senate conducts the impeachment trial and decides on the outcome.

The Vice-President has the power to vote in the Senate if necessary to break a tie vote.

U.S. Senators are elected to six-year terms.

The Vice-President also presides over the US Senate, but can only cast a vote in case of a tie.

The Vice-President has no specific term of office, since he serves at the will of the President.

LocalVoter provides links to county voter registration websites where available. Just choose your location and county from the menu on the left, then find the link in the "Get Answers" section on the right.