Tax Assessor-Collector Vasquez reminds citizens of this crucial deadline

HOUSTON Jan. 26 2010 Harris County Voter Registrar Leo Vasquez reminds Harris County citizens to register to vote now. The deadline to register to vote in the 2010 primary elections is February 1 2010.
The primaries will be held March 2 and are a vital part of how citizens choose their representatives and judges. Often the only real contests in some districts your political neighborhood -- are in a partys primary" Vasquez explained.
Nearly 1.9 million Harris County citizens are on the voter roll. Through various community outreach efforts the Tax Office has made it very easy to register. Just do it now please" Vasquez urged.
He pointed out that voter registration renewal certificates have been mailed. If you are registered and have not received your new certificate which is blue please contact our office at 713 368-VOTE.
Visit the Tax Office Web site at
www.hcvoter.net to ensure that you are properly registered. If you need to update your address or make a name change you can obtain a voter registration application on our Web site at

any Tax Office branch location local post offices libraries and City of Houston community and health centers.
To be eligible to vote in the March 2 primary elections your completed voter registration application must be delivered to any Tax Office branch location before 4:45 p.m. on Feb. 1 or mailed with a U.S. Postal Service postmark date of no later than Feb. 1 2010. State law requires citizens to be registered to vote 30 days prior to the election date in order to be eligible.
Applicants may register to vote if they:
- Are a resident of Harris County and
- Are at least 17 years 10 months of age (to vote you must be 18) and
- Are a U.S. citizen and
- Have not been finally convicted of a felony (unless they have completed all punishment including any term of incarceration parole supervision period of probation or have been pardoned); and
- Have not been determined by a final judgment of a court exercising probate jurisdiction to be totally mentally incapacitated or partially mentally incapacitated without the right to vote.
For more information please contact the Harris County Tax Office Voter Registration Department at 713-368-VOTE (8683).