Postponement of the May 2, 2020 Board of Trustees Election FAQs

​​​​​​​On March 18, 2020, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a proclamation authorizing political subdivisions, including Dallas College, to postpone their elections to the November 3, 2020 uniform election date. Dallas County Elections Department subsequently advised the college that it would not be contracting with entities to conduct the election for the college in May 2019.  On April 2, 2020, the Texas Secretary of State advised political subdivisions that those that resisted moving their elections from May to November would put voters' health at risk and expose voters to potential criminal violations.  Entities not postponing their election could also face a court challenge to their elections.  Accordingly, the Dallas College Board of Trustees approved at its April 7, 2020 regular meeting, a resolution postponing the May 2, 2020, election to November 3, 2020. 

Why was the May 2, 2020 Board of Trustees Election postponed?

The Board of Trustees voted on April 7, 2020 to postpone the May 2, 2020 election to November 3, 2020 in recognition of and response to the current state of emergency posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for social distancing to stop the spread of COVID-19.

When was the decision made to postpone the Election and who made the decision to postpone?

The decision to postpone the Election was made on April 7, 2020, by the Dallas​​ College​ Board of Trustees at the Board's regularly scheduled meeting.

When will the next Trustees Election be held?

The Board of Trustees election will be held on the next uniform election date, Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

Will I need to file a new application for Place on the Ballot?

No. By postponing the May 2nd election to the November 3, 2020, the college is preserving all candidate filings and ballot order actions that have already been taken.

Will there be a new filing period established for new candidates to file to run?

No. The postponement does not have the effect of reopening the candidate filing period. 

Will there be a 2nd drawing for Place on the Ballot for the next election?

No. The ballot order actions that have already taken place will be preserved, no other drawing will take place.

How will the postponement of the election affect any campaign finance reporting requirements?

The postponement of the May 2nd election to November 3, 2020, also postpones Texas Ethics Commission filing deadlines. The complete filing schedule for the May 2, 2020, uniform election and the November 3, 2020, uniform el​ection can be found online

Please contact the Texas Ethics Commission at 512-463-5800 for further guidance on how modified timelines will affect campaign finance reporting requirements. 

How will the postponement of the election affect other election deadlines?

Since the election has been postponed to the next uniform election date, November 3, 2020, the deadlines under the Texas Elections Code and other applicable law that apply to the November 3, 2020 election will apply. 

How does the postponement of the election affect current members of the Board?

Under Article XVI, Section 17, of the Texas Constitution, current members of the Board who are scheduled to be on the ballot on the May 2, 2020 election date will continue to exercise their duties until newly elected members take their oaths of office following the November election. 

What are the major relevant dates for the November 3, 2020 election?

  • The last day to register to vote is Monday, October 5, 2020.

  • The deadline to apply for a ballot by mail is Friday, October 23, 2020.

  • The dates for early voting are Monday, October 19 – Friday, October 30, 2020.

If I already applied for a ballot by mail for the May 2, 2020 election, do I have to refile for the November 3, 2020 election?

If you applied for a ballot by mail for the May 2, 2020 election for reasons of being over age 65 or due to disability, your filing will remain valid for the November 3, 2020 election date. However, if you applied for a ballot by mail based on expected absence from the county, your filing will not be valid for the November 3, 2020 election date since the applicable election date has changed. 

How will the decision to postpone the election affect the college's election schedule?

The decision to postpone will not affect the college​'s election schedule in the future.

Have other entities postponed their May 2, 2020 elections?

To learn the current status of the elections of the other entities scheduled to utilize the May 2, 2020 election date, please refer to the Dallas County Elections website

Will the term of office of a person elected to serve as a Trustee in the November 3, 2020 election be affected by postponement of the election?

The regular term of office of six (6) years for a candidate elected to serve as Trustee at the November 3, 2020 election will effectively be shortened by six (6) months and will expire in May of 2026.

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