Early Voting in Texas Begins Today

The General Election takes place on Tuesday, November 4th, but Texans may begin casting early ballots today at polling locations throughout Tarrant and Denton counties. The last day of early voting is Friday, October 31st.

Information Headquarters

You can reach the Tarrant County Elections Center online or at 817-831-VOTE (8683). Denton County residents can contact their election officials at 940-349-3200 or visit their county's election administration website .

Early Voting Hours:

In Tarrant County, early voting takes place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday in Week 1 (Oct. 20-24); from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday (Oct. 25); 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday (Oct. 26); and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday in Week 2 (Oct. 27-Oct. 31). In Denton County, early voting hours are the same except polls will be open from 1 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 26.

Early Voting Locations:

For a map of Tarrant County early voting locations, visit their website or visit the following locations in Senate District 12:

Tarrant County Elections Center
2700 Premier Street
Fort Worth
BJ Clark Annex
603 Southeast Parkway
Azle

Euless Public Library
201 N. Ector Drive
Euless

Grapevine Community Activities Center
1175 Municipal Way
Grapevine, Texas

Haltom Recreation Center
4839 Broadway Avenue
Haltom City
Hurst Recreation Center
700 Mary Drive
Hurst, Texas

Keller Town Hall
1100 Bear Creek Parkway
Keller

Lake Como Area Council
3507 Horne Street
Fort Worth

NRH Recreation Center
6720 NE Loop 820
North Richland Hills

Northeast Sub-Courthouse
645 Grapevine Hwy
Hurst

Northwest Sherriff’s Patrol Building
6651 Lake Worth Blvd
Lake Worth

Saginaw City Hall
333 W MacLeroy Blvd.
Saginaw

Southlake Town Hall
1400 Main Street
Southlake

Summerglen Branch Library
4205 Basswood Blvd.
Fort Worth

Villages of Woodland Springs
Amenity Building
12209 Timberland Blvd.
Fort Worth

White Settlement Rec Center
8213 White Settlement Road
White Settlement

A map of Denton County early voting locations can be found at Denton County elections online. The following are the Senate District 12 locations:

Joseph A. Carroll Building
401 W. Hickory
Denton

Flower Mound Police and Court Building
4150 Kirkpatrick
Flower Mound

Justin Municipal Building
415 N College
Justin

Lake Dallas City Hall
212 Main Street
Lake Dallas, Texas

Lewisville Municipal Building
1197 W. Main Street
Lewisville

Highland Village Municipal Complex
1000 Highland Village Road
Highland Village, Texas

Roanoke Community Center
321 S. Walnut
Roanoke

*The Following Locations are operating under special hours. Check Denton County Elections online for more information*

Friendship Baptist Church
4396 Main
The Colony

Trophy Club MUD
100 Municipal Drive
Trophy Club

Frisco Lakes Amenities Center
7277 Frisco Lakes Dr.
Frisco

Texas Council on Family Violence Honors Senator Nelson

Senator Nelson has been named one of the “30 Stars over Texas” by the Texas Council on Family Violence. She was recognized for her continued support and advocacy to reduce domestic violence in Texas. Her accomplishments in this area include increasing penalties for offenders, strengthening protective orders, improving battery intervention prevention programs, and making it easier for victims to terminate leases and protect their identity when they escape abusive relationships. "Domestic violence continues to go underreported in Texas," she said. "We must keep up our efforts to punish offenders and provide support those who are trying to break the cycle of abuse."

Enrollment Begins for Tuition Fund

Texas families can begin signing up for the Texas Tuition Promise Fund, which freezes the cost of undergraduate college tuition fees at current prices for participating future students. As a former public school teacher and mother of five, I place a high priority on making college education more affordable, which is why I supported this initiative in the Texas Senate. To find out how to enroll, visit the program's web site.

Take the Survey!

Our district newsletter is now available for viewing online. It contains important information about the upcoming legislative session -- issues to watch and tips for following all the action. If you are a registered voter in Senate District 12, we invite you to sound off on issues expected to take center stage when the Legislature reconvenes in January 2009 by taking our District Survey.

Make Sure Your Voter Registration Is Current

With the election approaching quickly, you should be aware of some important deadlines, especially if you have recently moved. Monday, October 6th, is the last day to register to vote. Elections administrators are suggesting that citizens check the status of their voter registration cards prior to the deadline. You can reach the Tarrant County Elections Center online or at 817-831-VOTE (8683). Denton County residents can contact their election officials at 940-349-3200 or visit their county’s election administration website for more information.

Star-Telegram Notices Similarities between Nelson, Palin

In case you missed it, check out my interview with the Star-Telegram's J.R. Labbe. I had a great talk with her about juggling motherhood and politics, given the national discussion surrounding Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. My five children were ages 3-10 when I was first elected to the State Board of Education in the 80s and ages 7-14 when I first joing the Senate. I faced some of the very same questions that are being put to Governor Palin and am quite frankly surprised that they continue to be asked. If we disqualify every mother in American from serving in public office, we would not reach the potential as a nation, state, and community.

Sen. Nelson Reacts to State Audit Of HHS Agencies

AUSTIN -- Texas State Senator Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, reacted strongly today to Report Number 08-047 from the Office of State Auditor, detailing systemic breakdowns within the agencies managed by the Texas Health & Human Services Commission.

"These results are unacceptable and require an immediate response," said Senator Nelson, who will ask agency officials to discuss the audit's findings before the Senate Health & Human Services Committee. The audit found that:

• 92 percent of supervisors hired between September 1, 2006, and March 31, 2008, had not completed one or more of the required training courses;
• 72 percent of employees sampled had no employee evaluation in their file;
• 1,229 terminated individuals continued to receive paychecks totaling $738,192;
• and the Commission does not consistently comply with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's requirement to verify citizenship.

"All agency employees should be properly screened and should comply with training requirements because many of them are caring for children, the elderly and our most vulnerable citizens," she said. "It is unimaginable that a terminated employee would continue to receive a paycheck or that someone could be placed on 'emergency' leave for a year while investigations of criminal background checks are taking place."

Senator Nelson announced last month that she is drafting legislation to overhaul the screening process for state health and human services direct care staff. Today she said she will expand that effort to address deficiencies found in this audit.

SENATOR JANE NELSON represents District 12, which includes parts of Tarrant and Denton counties. She is Chairman of the Senate Health & Human Services Committee.