This year, UTSA is changing the way citizens of San Antonio vote on UTSA’s campus in the middle of a global pandemic. The university has moved voting to the H-E-B Student Union Ballroom, which is bigger than previous locations, for both early voting, beginning on Oct. 13 and ending on Oct. 30, and Election Day, Nov. 3.

“We have moved voting to a larger location, the H-E-B Student Union Ballroom, to ensure proper social distancing,” Dean of Students LT Robinson said.

The other ways UTSA plans to ensure the safety of citizens who plan to cast their vote were already implemented at the beginning of the semester. 

“The university has initiated the ‘Do Your Part’ and ‘Masks Up’ campaigns

to promote mask wearing, social distancing and hand washing during the pandemic,” Robinson said. “These initiatives remain in place during early voting and the general election. Additionally, lines for voting will be monitored to keep social distances between voters, and the voting process is completely contactless.”

Students and staff who wish to vote but don’t want to do so in person can mail in their ballots. For these individuals, the university is making efforts to ensure their voices do not go unheard.

“Members of Roadrunners in Action, a campus wide initiative to promote voter education, will be distributing voter guide information to students living on campus and sharing information on social media,” Robinson said. “The university is sending reminders to students on a regular basis to help with information on voter registration, mail-in ballots and early voting.”