Bexar County Elections Office extends office hours for last-minute voter registration

SAN ANTONIO - The deadline to register to vote for this election is Monday, October 7. In Texas, you cannot register to vote online, you need to do it in person at your corresponding elections office, or mail in your voter registration.

"If it were to be online, it would be easier, because I could just do it through my phone or through a laptop," said an expecting mother who doesn't want to be identified.

The woman said she hasn't registered to vote yet. Part of the reason is because she's a mother and said making the trip down to the elections office has been difficult.

"You have to take them to appointments, you have to take them to school. You have to pick them up, pick up the grocery so if you get to do it online, which could be like, maybe less than five minutes," said the expecting mother.

The Bexar County Elections Office will have extended hours on Monday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and the woman said she's going to take advantage and register then.

"As we engage with potential voters, we engage in the best practice of encouraging everyone to check their voter registration status, especially if you haven't voted in a while, especially if you moved recently," said Yvonne Pelayo with the League of Women Voters in San Antonio.

Even if you have registered to vote in the past, Pelayo stressed the importance of checking your voter status because all information must be up to date to cast your vote on election day.

"You just don't think about it until it's time for an election, and then you don't think about the fact that you have to be registered in advance. You just can't show up and vote. You know, without a voter registration card," said Ralph Rodriguez who is encouraging all his children to vote.

Rodriguez wants to remind first time voters they need to register and bring a valid identification on election day to make their vote count.

You can also mail in your voter registration paperwork, but it must be post marked before 5:00 p.m. on Monday, October 7. Rodriguez said he wouldn't take the risk.

"I would say, go drop it off in person. All right? Because the mail system that gets it gets overwhelmed, and you just don't really know. And nothing like turning it in and saying I did it," said Rodriguez.

If you're not sure if you are eligible to vote, or don't know your voter registration status, you can