TFVC’s Welcome To Texas Guide

Our phones ring off the hook with calls from those seeking refuge from the tyranny of their home states. From the affordable lifestyle to the liberty-loving citizens, there is no doubt there are many great reasons to call Texas home.

We here at Texans for Vaccine Choice are excited to welcome you to the Lone Star State. It is said that everything is bigger and better in Texas, and we agree! Since 2015, our grassroots efforts to protect and advance informed consent, medical privacy, and vaccine choice have exploded and our membership has grown at lightning speed.

This is due not only to the dedicated work of our native Texans, but also that of the many families like yours moving to our state. This unique situation has created a high demand for a crash course on all things medical freedom in Texas. We hope you find this Welcome to Texas Guide practical, helpful, and full of passion with a hefty dose of love as we welcome you as one of our own.

While I certainly hope to meet you in person very soon, in the meantime, shoot me a text and let me know you are here!

Welcome to Texas, y’all!

---

The religious and philosophical exemptions are combined into one exemption that is exercised with an official affidavit called the Exemption from Immunizations for Reasons of Conscience that is requested from the state and delivered to your home in the mail. Medical exemptions need only be a letter from a doctor (MD or DO) licensed in the U.S.

We have an entire page on our website set up to walk you through your exemption rights! Our Exemption FAQ page has answers to all of your exemption related questions. Learn how to order your exemption affidavits, get detailed instructions on how to properly fill out your form, see if your medical exemption complies with the law, learn about provisional enrollment, and much more!

---

---

---

When Texans register to vote, do they register for a certain party?
No. There are only registered voters in Texas. There is no party registration. 

Can any registered voter vote in any primary election?
Texas has an open primary, meaning anyone can cast a ballot in primary of their choice, regardless of whether you’ve voted in that party’s primary before. Republicans can vote in the Democratic primary. Democrats can vote in the Republican primary. You can still only vote in one primary. 

If I don’t vote in the Primary, can I vote in the Primary Run-off?
Once you’ve voted in a party primary, you can vote in only that party’s run-offs. If you skip the primary, you can vote in either party’s run-off, but you cannot cross over in the run-offs; if you vote in the Republican primary, you can’t vote in the Democratic run-off, and vice versa. How and whether you vote in a primary and run-off has no bearing on your vote in the November general election. 

How to do I find my polling location?
During early voting, registered voters may vote at ANY early voting location located within your county of residence. On Election Day, you can vote only at your assigned voting precinct. Please see https://teamrv-mvp.sos.texas.gov/MVP/mvp.do for information on your specific precinct.

When do I vote?
For all important upcoming Texas election days, please visit https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/important-election-dates.shtml

How do I vote with a mail-in ballot?
To be eligible to vote early by mail in Texas, you must: be 65 years or older; be disabled; be out of the county on election day and during the early voting period; or be confined in jail, but otherwise eligible. Request an Application for a Ballot by Mail here: https://webservices.sos.state.tx.us/vrrequest/bbm.asp

Military and overseas voters are welcome to use the regular registration and early voting by mail process available to all voters away from their home county on Election Day. Additional special provisions for military and overseas voters can be found here: http://www.votetexas.gov/military-overseas-voters/index.html

---

---

History of Vaccine Choice Legislation

Party Climate for Vaccine Choice

Texas has historically championed individual rights and personal liberties – it’s sort of who we are as Texans! The decision to support Texas families in their right to make medical decisions without government intrusion was a natural one for many Texas legislators. However, others remain unreceptive to the message of medical freedom and unwilling to examine the science of vaccine injury.

As is the case in many other states, this divide between legislators who are friendly to our cause and those who are not occurs along party lines. Texans for Vaccine Choice is a non-partisan organization with members from all across the political spectrum, but the Republican Party of Texas has overwhelmingly embraced our mission and our message – even adopting several planks related to vaccine choice to their party platform – while Democrat legislators not only refuse to meet with us, but often openly mock our families on social media and discriminate against them at the capitol.

Perhaps the clearest illustration of this can be seen on the graphs of scorable votes below. These numbers represent House floor votes for/against different issues related to medical freedom and vaccine choice cast during the 85th Legislative Session in 2017.

---

---

---

---

---