Voting is a Mitzvah!
According to ReformJudaism.org, “Torah is clear that the requirement for civic engagement applies not just to our Jewish communities, but to society writ large.”

Beth Israel and its Social Justice Committee are non-partisan, but we believe Judaism is a religion of action, and one of the most important actions and rights you have in this country is the right to vote. Here are some resources to help you and others vote:

Are you registered to vote? If not, you may request a voter registration form or learn how to get one at: https://www.hctax.net/Voter/Registration. You must register by October 7 to be eligible to vote in the November 5 election. Social Justice Committee members also will be present at Shabbat Evening Service Onegs to help voters register through October 7.

You may think you are registered to vote, but your registration may have been suspended during recent voter roll maintenance. Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced at the end of August that 1-million voters had been removed from the voter rolls. Voter roll maintenance is routine, but bureaucrats make mistakes, so you should check to see if you are still registered. To do so, go to
https://teamrv-mvp.sos.texas.gov/MVP/mvp.do.

If your voter registration is suspended, you are still able to cast your ballot during early voting or on election days, but you’ll need to update or confirm your address online before October 7 to be removed from the suspension list. You may do that here: https://txapps.texas.gov/tolapp/sos/SOSACManager.

If you’d like to help register voters, check out Harris County’s Volunteer Deputy Voter Registrar page for information on how to do it: https://www.hctax.net/Voter/Registration.
Keep in mind, voters in the November 5 election must be registered by October 7.

You are eligible to vote by mail-in ballot if: you are 65 years old or older; sick or disabled; you’ll be out of the county during early voting and on Election Day; expected to give birth within three weeks before or after Election Day, or confined in jail, but otherwise eligible. To apply to vote by mail: https://www.sos.texas.gov/elections/voter/reqabbm.shtml

Important Deadlines:
Monday, October 7: Last day to register to vote
Monday, October 21: First day to vote early in person
Friday, October 25: Vote by Mail ballot application receipt deadline
Friday, November 1: Last day to vote early in person
Tuesday, November 5: Election Day and Vote by Mail ballot receipt deadline

For a non-partisan voter’s guide: https://www.houstonvotersguide.org/

If you’d like to be a poll worker, sign up at: powerthepolls.org/lwvtexas

You can help encourage people to vote during a non-partisan phone-banking event October 22. It’s computerized, easy, and time-efficient. If you are interested in participating, contact Lisa Stone at lestone@aya.yale.edu, or Warren Rich at nwr5462@icloud.com.

Please vote! It’s our right! It’s our duty! It’s a MITZVAH!