Get Out the Vote!

Shape the state oil and gas agency with YOUR vote!

The Railroad Commission’s decisions affect every Texan in some way, whether you live next to oil and gas development or pay a gas utility bill. Members of the three-person commission are elected statewide, not regionally. One seat is up for election every two years, in even-numbered years. Commissioners serve staggered six-year terms, and there is no limit to the number of terms a commissioner can serve.

Join Commission Shift’s Candidate Forum!

Commission Shift is thrilled to announce that it will host Texas’s ONLY Railroad Commissioner Candidate Forum on Wednesday, October 16th. All candidates for the role of Railroad Commissioner have been invited to participate, offering a unique opportunity for voters to hear directly from those racing to influence Texas’s energy landscape.

Where: Thompson Conference Center at UT Austin, room 1.110 (Livestream will also be available)
2405 Robert Dedman Drive
When: Wednesday Oct 16, 2024
Doors open at 6 PM. Program 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Light refreshments will be served.

The forum will be livestreamed and Spanish interpretation will be available virtually, ensuring accessibility for attendees across the state.

Commission Shift is a nonpartisan nonprofit, and we do not endorse or oppose candidates.

RSVP here!

At our Candidate Forum, Commission Shift will ask the candidates questions relating to topics including transparency, environment & safety, industry & economy and climate & future energy challenges.

Ground rules: Each candidate will have two minutes to respond to the questions asked by our debate’s moderator. We will be firm about ending candidate answers when their allotted time has elapsed. In the first round, candidates will answer the first question in alphabetical order of their surnames, after which we will move from stage right to stage left until all candidates have answered or passed on the question at hand. After all candidates have answered the first question, we will then rotate who is the first to answer the next question from stage right to stage left until the conclusion of the candidate forum. The forum will last one hour from the time the first question is asked.

View some of our sample questions here:

Transparency

What will you do to make the Commission’s actions more accessible and understandable to the public?
What changes could the Railroad Commission support to ensure that royalty owners and the State Comptroller’s Office receive accurate payments from oil and gas operators?

Environment & Safety

What changes would you support to prevent risks to groundwater quality from oil and gas operations or underground injection?
How can the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Railroad Commission better coordinate to protect public health and air quality near facilities or activities the Railroad Commission authorizes?
What initiatives would you take as Railroad Commissioner to improve pipeline safety?

Industry & Economy

What role do you see renewable energy sources playing in Texas’s future economic landscape, and how do you expect that to affect the way the Railroad Commission carries out its mission?
What would you do to ensure that utility bills remain affordable for Texans, considering the impact of extreme weather events like Winter Storm Uri on the cost of natural gas and electricity?

Climate & Future Energy Challenges

Climate Change: What is your stance on the role Texas should play in addressing climate change, and how does that align with the Railroad Commission’s responsibilities?
Long-Term Energy Planning: What is your vision for Texas’s energy future over the next 10–20 years, and what role should the Railroad Commission play in achieving that future?

What do I need to know about going to the polls?

Before Voting

Check if you are registered to vote at votetexas.gov.
Find polling places on your county election website or at VOTE411.org.
Find a sample ballot on your county election website or call your county elections division for more information.

Day of Voting

Bring your sample ballot to the polls for additional support at the booth.
Bring one type of valid photo ID.
Try to vote early, between 10 AM – 4 PM if you plan to vote on election day, or allow extra time for long lines.

Important Dates

Monday, October 7th, 2024: Last day to register to vote
Monday, October 21st, 2024: First Day of Early Voting by Personal Appearance
Friday, October 25th, 2024: Last day to apply for ballot by mail
Friday, November 1st: Last day of Early Voting by Personal Appearance
Tuesday, November 5th, 2024: General Election Day/Last Day to Receive Ballot By Mail*

Find more key dates at the Secretary of State’s website.

*Tuesday, November 5, 2024 (Election Day) at 7:00 p.m. if carrier envelope is not postmarked, OR Wednesday, November 6, 2024 (next business day after Election Day) at 5:00 p.m. if carrier envelope is postmarked by 7:00 p.m. at the location of the election on Election Day (unless overseas or military voter deadlines apply).

Commission Shift has put together a guide with everything you need to know about the upcoming election.

Learn more about the Railroad Commission and what you need to vote with our Voters Guide! The guide also comes with a worksheet you can use to reflect on how the candidates for Railroad Commissioner align with your values and your community needs.

Download the guide here!

The guide is also available in Spanish here.