Are You Ready to VOTE?

As the country tunes in to the first debate tonight -- make sure you are ready for the November 4th elections. It is important that working class and people of color families makes sure that OUR VOICE, NUESTRA VOZ, is heard in these important local, state and national elections.

Am i registered? Check here for the state of Texas ... remember which county you are registered in or if you maybe registered with a different last name. For Bexar County, you can also check here.

How do i register? The deadline the application must be postmarked by is October 6th. You can complete a voter registration form here, but you must print and mail to your county. You can request an application through SWU 210.299.2666 or from the Elections Department of Bexar County 210.335.VOTE or Medina County 830.741.6009.

• You must be a US Citizen and at least 18 by the election day.
• If you have been convicted of a felony, you must have completed jail time & probation.
  

When is the Election? The election day is Tuesday November 4th. Early voting is open October 20 - October 31st.

• The last day to request a vote by mail if you are over 65, are temporarily residing out of town or are disabled is October 28th. It must be received & processed by your county. Look here for more information or to print the request form.

Where do i vote? Find your polling place if you live in Bexar County here. In Medina County call 830.741.6009.

What do i need to bring? Bring your voter registration card. If you do not have one, the following are acceptable identification:

• a driver's license or personal identification card issued from any state, regardless of whether the license or card has expired;
• a form of identification containing your photograph and name;
• a birth certificate;
• US citizenship papers;
• a US passport;
• official mail addressed to you, by name, from a governmental entity;
• a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and address where you are registered to vote.

Anyone is eligible to complete a provisional ballot.

More Questions: Call SWU at 210.299.2666

Claire Goodwin Garden Extraordinare

My experience as an intern at Southwest Workers’ Union was beyond expectations, and an amazing way to spend my 2008 summer. I learned so much about Texas gardening, soils, edible plants, and composting, and also a lot about myself and my goals for the future. I found out that a lot of people can benefit from just one small garden, and also that a small yet growing organization can have a huge impact on a community of people.

I feel as if I accomplished a lot of my goals this summer, the biggest one being the native plant garden. A lot of the goals were hard to reach, however, because building a garden, and community connections, takes time and patience. One thing I would have liked to do more of is reaching out to community members within the surrounding area of the city, so hopefully in the next few years more people will get involved with the garden so it can grow to its full potential!

Southwest Workers’ Union is a great place to do an internship! While being in San Antonio, I worked with very hardworking and passionate people who really believe and follow their mission, and who made me feel like I was one of the family. The whole experience really made me grow as a person, and I will look back on this time in my life for years to come.

-E. Claire Goodwin