* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:02] UH, GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. [Austin National Voter Registration Day Proclamation ] UH, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AT YOUR AUSTIN CITY HALL TODAY. UH, I'M COUNCILMAN RI AND I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION DAY. FIRST, I WANNA RECOGNIZE THE ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT WE HAVE WITH US TODAY. UH, TRAVIS COUNTY TAX ACCESSOR COLLECTOR OF BRUCE ELON, UH, AND THEN THE TRAVIS COUNTY DISTRICT CLERK VELVET PRICE. THERE YOU GO. UH, AND I'M ALSO GONNA RECOGNIZE MOVE TEXAS AMBER MILLS, WHO FIRST APPROACHED US ABOUT DOING VOTER REGISTRATION WORK AT THE CITY LEVEL, AND WHO WILL BE RECEIVING I PROCLAMATION TODAY. BEFORE I GET FURTHER INTO MY REMARKS, SINCE IT'S NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION DAY, AFTER ALL, IT IS MY DUTY TO REMIND YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU, YOUR FAMILY, YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR LOVED ONES ARE ALL REGISTERED TO VOTE AT YOUR CURRENT ADDRESS. YOU CAN VISIT AUSTIN TEXAS.GOV/VOTER INFO TO CHECK THAT, OR YOU CAN GO TO VOTE TRAVIS.ORG. IF YOU'RE OUTSIDE OF AUSTIN. IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE BECAUSE CIVIC PARTICIPATION, UH, ISN'T JUST A FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLE FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN, PREFER AMERICAN DEMOCRACY. AND UNFORTUNATELY, MANY TAKE THAT RIGHT FOR GRANTED DESPITE THE FACT THAT EVERY TWO YEARS BAD ACTORS AT THE STATE TRY TO INTERFERE WITH OR OTHERWISE RESTRICT THAT, RIGHT? SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ALL WORK TOGETHER TO OVERCOME THESE HURDLES BECAUSE VOTER REGISTRATION RATES ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY LOWER AMONG LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, YOUNG VOTERS AND NATURALIZED CITIZENS, TEXAS VOTERS IN PARTICULAR, FACE BARRIERS SUCH AS VOTER ID LAW, A 30 DAY VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE, THE INABILITY TO REGISTER TO VOTE ONLINE, HEAVILY RESTRICTED ACCESS TO VOTING BY MAIL AND OTHER SYSTEMATIC BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION. AND THAT IS WHY COMING SOON TO AN UPCOMING CITY COUNCIL MEETING, I WILL BE PURSUING POLICIES AND LAYING THE GROUNDWORK TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY IS MORE INVOLVED WITH VOTER REGISTRATION EFFORTS. WE WILL BUILD ON PREVIOUS VICTORIES PASSED BY MY CO COLLEAGUES, COUNCILOR FUENTES AND COUNCILOR ALLISON ALTER, THAT CREATED BETTER FLEXIBILITY FOR AUSTIN EMPLOYEES TO VOTE AND USE THAT FRAMEWORK TO LET CITY OF AUSTIN EMPLOYEES HAVE TIME OFF TO BECOME VOTER, UH, TO BECOME DEPUTY VOTER REGISTRARS. WE'LL EXPLORE MORE INTERGOVERNMENTAL OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTNER WITH OUR COUNTIES TO MAKE ACTIVE VOTER REGISTRATION EFFORTS TO CITY OF FACILITIES LIKE LIBRARIES AND CITY HALL. AND WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT EVERY TIME SOMEONE REGISTERS AT ANY RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS OR CHANGES ADDRESS WITH THE CITY SERVICE, SUCH AS AUSTIN ENERGY OR AUSTIN WATER, THAT THEY'RE REMINDED TO UPDATE THEIR VOTER REGISTRATION AT THEIR NEW ADDRESS. UH, BEFORE WE GET TO THE PROCLAMATION, I WOULD LIKE TO HAND THE MIC OVER TO TRAVIS COUNTY TAX ACCESSOR BRUCE ALFON, OUR COUNTY'S VOTER REGISTRAR. WOO-HOO. THERE YOU GO. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER FOR INVITING ME HERE OF COURSE, ON NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION DAY. I AM BRUCE ELTO, TRAVIS COUNTY'S TEXAS ASSESSOR COLLECTOR AND VOTER REGISTRAR. AND, UH, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE CITY ON THEIR, ON THEIR EFFORTS, UM, TO ENCOURAGE MORE OF OUR CITIZENS TO ENGAGE IN THEIR, IN THEIR, THEIR DEMOCRACY. AS BENJAMIN AND FRANKLIN WAS LEAVING INDEPENDENCE HALL IN 1787, AFTER CASTING HIS VOTE, UH, FOR A NEW US CONSTITUTION, A WOMAN ASKED HIM WHAT TYPE OF GOVERNMENT WAS ESTABLISHED A REPUBLIC. HE REPLIED, IF YOU CAN KEEP IT, FRANKLIN AND THE OTHER FOUNDING FATHERS UNDERSTOOD THAT THEIR WORK TO FORM A NATION GOVERNED BY ITS PEOPLE WAS JUST THE BEGINNING. THEY REALIZED THAT THE ONGOING WORK OF FORMING THAT MORE PERFECT UNION WOULD ALSO REQUIRE CITIZENS TO CONTINUE TO BE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THEIR AFFAIRS OF GOVERNMENT. NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION DAY WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2012 TO ENCOURAGE MORE AMERICAN CITIZENS TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR DEMOCRATIC FORM GOVERNMENT BY REGISTERING TO VOTE AND VOTING. ACCORDING TO THE VOTER PARTICIPATION CENTER, MORE THAN 50 MILLION AMERICANS ARE NOT REGISTERED TO VOTE AND MILLIONS MORE HAVE NOT UPDATED THEIR ADDRESS TO THEIR CURRENT ADDRESS. REGISTERING TO VOTE AND UPDATING ADDRESSES IS QUICK AND EASY. VOTER REGISTRATION CARDS ARE AVAILABLE AT ALL TAX OFFICE LOCATIONS, LIBRARIES, POST OFFICES AND VOLUNTEER DEPUTY REGISTRARS WILL BE THROUGHOUT TRAVIS COUNTY, UH, REGISTERING TO PEOPLE TO VOTE ANYWHERE WHERE THERE, WHERE THERE'S MORE THAN A FEW PEOPLE GATHERED. UM, SOME OF THESE LOCATIONS, INCLUDING ALL THE TAX OFFICE LOCATIONS, UM, THE PARAMOUNT THEATER FROM 6:00 AM FROM 10:00 AM TO 6:00 PM UM, AND THEY'VE AGREED TO PUT A VOTER REGISTRATION MESSAGE ON OUR MARQUEES, SO WE'RE VERY THANKFUL FOR THAT. UM, HIGHLAND MALL FROM 10:00 AM TO 2:00 PM A A CC HIGHLAND AND, UH, WHEATSVILLE CO-OP FROM 11 TO TWO, AND THEN ALL PUBLIC, ALL AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARIES. WE WANT EVERY ELIGIBLE TRAVIS COUNTY RESIDENT, UM, TO BE VOTE READY FOR THE UPCOMING ELECTION BY MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE REGISTERED AT THEIR CURRENT ADDRESS. FOR THOSE WHO AREN'T SURE, UH, THEY CAN GO TO VOTE TEXAS.GOV OR CALL [00:05:01] THE TAX OFFICE TO CHECK THEIR VOTER REGISTRATION STATUS. THE VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS FOR THE NOVEMBER ELECTION IS MONDAY, OCTOBER 7TH, AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT IF YOU'RE GOING TO MAIL YOUR APPLICATION, THAT YOU MAIL IT EARLY TO GUARANTEE THAT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A TIMELY POSTMARK. THE AMERICAN STORY ABOUT OUR STRUGGLE TO SECURE ITS SPAN AND MAINTAIN RIGHTS FOR ALL OUR CITIZENS IS UNIQUE AND EXCEPTIONAL IN THE HISTORY OF MANKIND, BUT OUR RIGHTS ARE A LOT LIKE MU. IN ORDER FOR THESE RIGHTS TO REMAIN STRONG AND VIBRANT, THEY MUST BE USED. I ENCOURAGE TRAVIS COUNTY CITIZENS TO FLEX THEIR COLLECTIVE MUSCLES BY REGISTERING AND VOTING IN NUMBERS THAT ARE WORTHY OF ALL THOSE WHO SACRIFICE SO MUCH TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR SUBSEQUENT GENERATIONS TO BE ABLE TO ELECT THEIR LEADERS IN A FREE SOCIETY. PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT SAID THE ONLY WAY WE CAN LOSE OUR RIGHT TO VOTE WOULD BE BY NOT VOTING. SO HAPPY VOTER REGISTRATION DAY, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE CITY. THANK YOU. WOO. WOO. GREAT. UM, NEXT, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP AMBER MILLS FROM MOVE TEXAS, UH, TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE HARD WORK, UH, GETTING, MAKING SURE, UH, THAT FOLKS ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE, UH, AND REALLY WANT TO THANK MOVE TEXAS BECAUSE WITHOUT THEM, UM, I DON'T THINK WE'RE WHERE WE ARE AS A, AS A CITY AND A STATE. SO THANK YOU. MOVE TEXAS. WOO-HOO. ALRIGHTY. GOOD MORNING AND HAPPY NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION DAY. MY NAME IS AMBER MILLS AND I'M THE SENIOR DEMOCRACY REFORM ORGANIZER AT MOVE TEXAS. WE'RE SO EXCITED TO BE HERE TO CELEBRATE THE BIGGEST DAY OF OUR YEAR AND OUR FAVORITE HOLIDAY WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN. TODAY. ALL ACROSS THE CITY AND STATE, PASSIONATE YOUNG ORGANIZERS ARE STEPPING UP TO HOST CREATIVE VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVES, BRINGING A FRESH WAVE OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT TO THEIR COMMUNITIES, FROM COLLEGE CLASSROOMS TO TABLINGS AT LOCAL BUSINESSES. THESE YOUNG TEXANS ARE TURNING VOTER REGISTRATION INTO A MOVEMENT, ONE THAT'S BUILT WITH THEM IN MIND AND IMPOSSIBLE TO IGNORE. THIS COMES AT A CRITICAL TIME WHEN STATE LEADERS ARE PUTTING UP DELIBERATE BARRIERS TO SILENCE THE VOICE OF A YOUNG AND DIVERSE ELECTORATE FOR MOVE. TEXAS TODAY IS MORE THAN JUST A REGISTRATION OPPORTUNITY. IT'S A CELEBRATION OF DEMOCRACY. WE KNOW VOTER REGISTRATION IS THE KEY FIRST STEP IN SOMEONE'S JOURNEY TO BECOMING MORE CIVICALLY ENGAGED. THAT'S WHY MOVE TEXAS'S NDRD EFFORTS ARE AIMED AT CREATING MEMORABLE FIRST OPPORTUNITIES AND LASTING LEADERS. THROUGH THESE PIVOTAL MOMENTS, WE CAN ENSURE THAT YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE A SAY IN THE DECISIONS THAT IMPACT THEIR LIVES AND THEIR FUTURE. LASTLY, WE'D JUST LIKE TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, CADRE, HIS TEAM, AND THEN THE TAX ASSESSOR'S OFFICE FOR BEING HERE. AND WE APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S COMMITMENT TO EXPANDING VOTER REGISTRATION IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND BEYOND, AND ULTI ULTIMATELY MAKING SURE THAT ALL RESIDENTS HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE AND BE A PART OF OUR DEMOCRACY. SO THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. WOO. . I'M GONNA PUT THAT, SORRY. GREAT. UH, AND NOW I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT OUR PROCLAMATION FOR NATIONAL VOTER REGI REGISTRATION DAY TO, UH, AMBER MILLS, UM, BEING KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS COMMITTED TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF ELECTION INTEGRITY AND ALSO TO ENCOURAGING BROAD VOTER REGISTRATION ACCESS AND CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN ELECTIONS AMONG VOTING ELIGIBLE CITIZENS. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN RECOGNIZES THAT MANY AMERICANS ARE NOT ABLE TO VOTE BECAUSE THEY MISS A REGISTRATION DEADLINE, DO NOT UPDATE THE REGISTRATION INFORMATION OR ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH HOW TO REGISTER. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN RECOGNIZES THE NEED FOR DIVERSE PARTNERS SUCH AS NONPROFITS, LIBRARIES, BUSINESSES, COLLEGES, AND UNIVERSITIES, AND MORE TO WORK IN THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE TO REGISTER CITIZENS TO VOTE. AND WHEREAS THE NEED TO RELIABLE AND TRUSTED PUBLIC INFORMATION AND EDUCATION ON VOTER REGISTRATION IS CRITICAL TO AMERICANS ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN ELECTIONS AND THE INTEGRITY OF ELECTRICAL ELECTORAL PROCESSES. NOW, THEREFORE, I, COUNCIL MEMBER ZARI ON BEHALF OF KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND THE REST OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 17TH, 2024 AS NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION DAY. I THINK WE ARE GOOD. THANK YOU SO. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.