The Anthony Hunt Library on the campus of Howard College has teamed up with Big Spring High School and Howard County libraries to host “PolitiTaco Tuesday” to help prepare voters for the upcoming election.
The come and go events will be held from 5:30-6:30 each Tuesday until election day. Attendees who are not Howard College students can obtain a meal voucher from the library that is valid for a free taco meal in the cafeteria until 7pm. The events are open for anyone to attend but are catered to first time voters who may need more guidance on the election process.
“We wanted to do everything we can to prepare our students and community members for the upcoming elections,” said Jill DeFore, Librarian. “So many of them are unsure of the process and it is our responsibility to educate them about their right to vote and what they can expect on election day.”
All attendees are required to sign in, wear a mask, and be screened with a hands-free temperature check as they enter the library. Howard College students can attend the event virtually if they prefer.
Everyone who signs in will automatically be entered to win a drawing for one of three taco night party packages, one of which includes a television.
“We received two separate grants to help us fund this project which allowed us to create the prize packages and entice people to come out and educate themselves about the voting process and get their voting related questions answered,” said DeFore. “We have also teamed up with the Howard County Republicans and Howard County Democrats to bring in local candidates who will be on the ballot in November.”
The schedule of events for the remainder of the month include:
October 13: Who/What’s on the Ballot? Discussion about what all is on the ballot and a few political candidates will be in attendance for a non-partisan meet-and-greet. The candidates currently scheduled include Eddilisa Saldivar (County Commissioner candidate), Shiloh Salazar (County Commissioner candidate), Jimmie Long (County Commissioner Candidate), Milton Perkins (County Commissioner Candidate), Cody Hughes (City Council Candidate), and Nick Hilario Ornelas (City Council Candidate). Other candidates may join as well.
October 20: Question & Answer Session: Do you still having voting questions? Grab some tacos while we try to answer those questions and get you ready for election day!
October 27: Voting Walk-Through: Come walk-through the voting process to see what you can expect to happen on voting day. Howard County Election Administrator, Jodi Duck, has provided a video walk-through of the voting booths that will be used in Howard County.