Statement from Bruce Elfant about the U.S. Postal Service

October 2, 2024

Today, Voter Registrar Bruce Elfant issued the following statement about the reversal of the U.S. Postal Service’s decision to assist in voter registration efforts.

“On every voter registration deadline, we receive as many as 2,000 voter registration applications that were mailed by the deadline but failed to receive timely postmarks. This often happens when mail is placed in neighborhood collection boxes or blue postal boxes after the last pickup. For years, I have been seeking a solution with the U.S. Postal Service that would minimize the number of citizens unable to vote due to late postmarks. This year, through Congressman Doggett’s office, we received approval to allow Travis County Volunteer Deputy Registrars to set up voter registration drives at post office locations in different areas of the county until midnight on the Oct. 7, 2024, voter registration deadline. 

Late last week, Congressman Doggett informed me that the Postal Service approval had been rescinded. To say that I am disappointed would be an understatement, but now we need to let those who still need to register to vote or update their addresses know what they should and should not do.

Do not mail voter registration applications after Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, unless obtaining hand-canceled postmarks. This means you must go inside the post office and wait in line to have your application postmarked by an employee. After Friday, there is no guarantee of receiving timely postmarks, and voter registration applications received with late postmarks will not be included on the voter rolls for the Presidential Election.

I encourage everyone to check their voter registration status at VoteTravis.com before the deadline. Eligible citizens who need to register or update their addresses can visit one of our other local partners holding voter registration drives. I’d especially like to extend my thanks to Thundercloud Subs for stepping up to replace the post office locations.

It’s unfortunate that the Postal Service chose not to partner with us to help minimize the occurrence of late voter registration applications, but we intend to do everything we can to help every eligible Travis County resident register to vote.”

Travis County Oct. 7, 2024, voter registration deadline locations include the following county offices and businesses.

8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Travis County Tax Office locations:

• Nelda Wells Spears Building, 2433 Ridgepoint Dr., Austin, TX 78754
• Travis County Tax Office – Pflugerville, 15822 Foothill Farms Loop, Pflugerville, TX 78660
• Travis County Tax Office – Northwest, 8110 N FM 620, Austin, TX 78726
• Travis County Tax Office – Southwest, 8656 State Hwy 71, Building B, Austin, TX 78735
• Travis County Tax Office – Southeast, 4011 McKinney Falls Pkwy., Austin, TX 78744

8 a.m. to midnight at Travis County North Campus:

• Travis County, 5501 Airport Blvd., Austin, TX 78751

Noon to 8 p.m. at all Travis County Thundercloud Subs locations:

• Thundercloud Subs, 1700 Grand Ave. Pkwy. #200, Pflugerville, TX 78660
• Thundercloud Subs, 903 W. 12^th St., Austin, TX 78703
• Thundercloud Subs, 2308 Lake Austin Blvd., Austin, TX 78703
• Thundercloud Subs, 201 E. Riverside Dr., Austin, TX 78704
• Thundercloud Subs, 2801 S. Lamar Blvd., Austin, TX 78704
• Thundercloud Subs, 3200 Guadalupe St., Austin, TX 78705
• Thundercloud Subs, 6105 E. Hwy 290, Austin, TX 78723
• Thundercloud Subs, 2500 W. Parmer Ln. #160, Austin, TX 78727
• Thundercloud Subs, 6920 Ranch Rd. 620 N., Austin, TX 78732
• Thundercloud Subs, 12400 State Hwy 71 #706, Bee Caves, TX 78738
• Thundercloud Subs, 2021 E. Riverside Dr., Austin, TX 78741
• Thundercloud Subs, 3201 Bee Caves Rd., Austin, TX 78746
• Thundercloud Subs, 1807 W. Slaughter Ln. #500, Austin, TX 78748
• Thundercloud Subs, 3601 W. William Cannon Dr. #300, Austin, TX 78749
• Thundercloud Subs, 13776 US-183 #152, Austin, TX 78750
• Thundercloud Subs, 5401 Burnet Rd., Austin, TX 78756
• Thundercloud Subs, 7930 Burnet Rd., Austin, TX 78757
• Thundercloud Subs, 2521 Rutland Dr., Austin, TX 78758

4 p.m. to midnight at Radio Coffee and The Front Page:

• Radio Coffee & Beer, 4204 Menchaca Rd., Austin, TX 78704
• Radio Coffee East, 3504 Montopolis Dr., Austin, TX 78744
• The Front Page, 1023 Springdale Rd., Building 1, Austin, TX 78721

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