26
October
2015
|
16:16 PM
America/Chicago

President Flores Encourages UHD Community to Vote

Early voting for the Nov. 3 2015 election has already begun for many local municipal elections. There are many important issues in local office that will be determined by your vote. We have the election of the Houston Mayor, the City Council and many other local positions, bond issues, the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO), and other issues that affect your life and the lives of people you love.

My grandmother, who passed away when I was 18 years old, made sure her voice was heard politically, even from her death bed. For her, an immigrant who learned English to become a U.S. citizen, voting was an obligation and responsibility of every citizen. Your vote makes a difference. As we enter Citizenship Month, let us not forget the power of a single vote and how each individual vote can determine what measures or which candidates are elected. As President Obama has said, "Elections matter." By your vote, you make a difference.

In addition, I encourage you to vote early! You can take advantage of early voting through Friday, Oct. 30, in any polling location in your county of residence. You can find a Harris County polling location near you by clicking here.

As state employees, you are entitled to Voting Leave. Employees are allowed a maximum of two hours at the beginning or end of the workday to vote in federal, state and local elections without deduction from pay or leave time.

You also can join our UHD "Walk 2 Vote" event on Oct. 29 as faculty, staff and students join Houston Mayor Annise Parker, CEO C. Waldner of Volunteer Houston, Rocko Stedy, DJ Mr. Rogers, a special guest and me at a rally on the South Deck at 12 p.m., followed by a walk to the Harris County Administration Building at 1001 Preston at 2 p.m. to cast our votes.

For details on Early Voting, please visit the Harris County Clerk's Early Voting web page.

Best Regards,

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Bill Flores

UHD President