El Paso - The Senate District 29 Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) has published a nonpartisan voter guide for the November 2018 El Paso City Council races. The voter guide is meant to serve as a tool to educate community members and voters on candidates for City Council and promote informed voting habits. It can be found online at https://www.sd29yac.com/voter-guide
"The YAC spent a lot of time brainstorming questions around issues that are important to us. I hope our questions and the design of the guide, encourage more young people to get excited and come to the polls this November as informed voters," said Ari Velez, YAC member and senior at Cotton Valley Early College High School.
The YAC is one of seven committees that are set up to work with the office of Senator José Rodríguez to:
1. Effectively represent our community and the state on priority issues.
2. Inform and engage the Paso del Norte and Trans-Pecos communities in decision-making at the highest levels of state government.
3. Inform constituents and increase civic participation.
The YAC's mission statement is to be "an all-inclusive, nonpartisan organization that informs youth through legislation, education and civic participation." Regular YAC meetings are at 2 p.m. on the second Saturday of every month at 100 N. Ochoa St., Suite A, El Paso, TX 79901.
"Voting is one of the best ways to make sure that your voice is heard and your values and interests are represented. Our democracy functions best when everyone participates," said Senator Rodríguez. "I'm especially proud of these young people for taking the initiative to inform their peers with a voter guide that addresses critical questions for our community."
Students may register to vote at 17 years and 10 months old. The deadline to register for the upcoming election is tomorrow, Tuesday, Oct. 9. Election Day is on Tuesday, Nov. 6. Early voting runs from Monday, Oct. 22, 2018, through Friday, Nov. 2, 2018. More information about where to register, vote, and what's on the ballot at www.epcountyvotes.com.
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José Rodríguez represents Texas Senate District 29, which includes the counties of El Paso, Hudspeth, Culberson, Jeff Davis, and Presidio. He represents both urban and rural constituencies, and more than 350 miles of the Texas-Mexico border. Senator Rodríguez currently serves as the Chairman of the Senate Democratic Caucus, and is a member of the Senate Committees on Natural Resources and Economic Development; Transportation; Veteran Affairs and Military Installations; and Agriculture, Water, and Rural Affairs.