Possible Disenfranchisement of military vote in El Paso

My family has lived on Fort Bliss for almost 6 years. Like all military families, our business is not limited to the facilities on post. Our daughter attends preschool at our church on off-post. We regularly shop at Basset Center, businesses around Fort Bliss, and, when we want to get away, the Sunland Park Mall area. We are zoo society members, cheer for the UTEP Miners, and regularly support the El Paso Diablos, our minor league baseball team.

Until Saturday, 7 May, I thought that El Paso appreciated the military. Mayor Joe Wardy, Dem., touted his achievements this campaign season, bragging about how he has worked to increase the size of Fort Bliss. Local radio and television stations, and the El Paso Times, advertise how much pride they take in the military presence in El Paso. Saturday, I realized that El Paso does not care for the military nearly as much as it cares for the money we bring. Saturday, as a voter registered in El Paso for over 5 years, I attempted to vote in the mayoral race and was turned away. “Post does not count as El Paso, all you can vote for is the school board”, I was told. Funny, I am considered an El Pasoan when they are looking for jurors; but I cannot vote for the judges. Is this because a large percentage of the military is Republican and El Paso votes democrat?

I did not catch this sooner because I was out of town during the 2001 election. (I did attend the mayor’s swearing-in that year, however, as part of my military duties). In 2003, I was deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and came home after the election.

I am still puzzled about this blatant disenfranchisement of the soldier vote. Land ownership cannot be used to deny my vote; I am still affected by city business (i.e. the airport and zoo expansion projects, this town’s inability to host a region of the NCAA tournament, air pollution and ground contamination, etc.). Is there some law I am missing out on?

The US Post Office insists on us using “El Paso”, not “Fort Bliss” on mail coming to us here on post; the 79906 area code. Based on 2000 census numbers, over 5000 people of voting age are affected by this policy. Most are Texas residents because Texas does not have state income tax. While El Paso boasts over 500,000 residents, roughly 10% voted in the last election.

I believe that this issue needs to be addressed and remedied. Until then, I encourage soldiers living on Fort Bliss to boycott El Paso businesses. Until we are given the right to vote in local elections, soldiers should only shop on post or on the internet. We should refuse to pay local sales taxes until we are given the right to vote here, or given a sales tax reimbursement like those offered to the citizens of Juarez, Mexico (who also use El Paso roads, stores, and schools but are not allowed to vote here and get back all money paid on state and city sales taxes on the basis of the US Constitution, since states cannot wage tariffs).

First step - get a good local map. Is the part of Ft. Bliss where you live within the city limits of El Paso, or is it outside the city limits. When I was growing up, none of the local cities extended their boundaries into the local military base, as it added nothing to the tax base, and they didn't want to be responsible for supplying any services.

Bottom line - if you don't live inside the city limits, you can't vote in the city. Parts of Bliss are clearly outside the city limits, other portions are more difficult to determine from the map that I have.

He states that he is liable for El Paso Jury duty.

The City of El Paso is located in El Paso county. You could be called to jury duty at the county courthouse even if you lived in another muncipality or even the unincorporated areas of the county. (Unlike some of the cities in Florida, Georgia or Virginia, cities and counties in Texas don't share common borders. For example, Dallas spills into at least 3 counties, but large portions of Dallas County are either unincorporated or part of other cities (DeSoto, Garland,Richardson to name just 3 of many). I'll yield if a Texas lawyer hits the thread, but I don't think that municipal courts in Texas even have juries.

If the original poster doesn't know the difference between El Paso County and the City of El Paso, he may be on the verge of making a public fool of himself, which won't sit well with the senior officers on base. Thus my advice to him to start by looking at a map.

Gentlemen;

I understand the difference between the city and the county, despite the complete lack of originality the two demonstrated in selecting nearly identical seals.
From looking at maps on the city and county websites, and speaking with numerous people at the county elections office it appears that main post of Fort Bliss has been grouped into the 86th precinct, completely surrounded by the City of El Paso but not technically part of the city. Officers and soldiers living in military housing (read same zip code) directly to the North or West of post are, by the map, part of the city. These housing areas are on government land that is only separated from main post by US 54 (running north south) and a local road (running east to west). I have been told that this road is also on government property but is policed by local law enforcement as a result of mutual agreement. Fort Bliss has all sort of land agreements; we leased land to the city to build a high school (which is part of the city).
The city website (www.elpasotexas.gov) has a handy "i live in zip code" drop down menu that links the visitor to a page showing info on their local representatives. 79906 is not a choice, but if you select a different zip code and then change the address in the address bar to read "906", a web page pops up with information on city representatives, etc., to include the main post elementary school. 79906 is the zip code for military personnel living in government quarters.
I called the representative listed on that page, Rep. Cushing. His office notified me that Fort Bliss was part of their district, El Paso (CITY) District 2, could not understand why I was turned away from voting, and asked me to call the county office. The county disagreed with Mr. Cushing's office because of colors on their precinct map but could not answer the "why is it that way?" question. The man I spoke with worked their 22 years and had no idea how they decided to leave off part of the post but include other parts.

Where from here: My head hurts from talking to city and county officials. This was always a real question of "why" for me more than anything. I now know that I am not going to get an answer. I cannot believe that if I had selected one set of quarters at the housing office over another I would have the right to vote in local elections. I now see the relationship of Fort Bliss and El Paso much differently (The city already makes approximately 15 dollars for every dollar it puts toward Fort Bliss). I will continue to report for county jury duty when called, but if I get any letters from the city I will just write "Not a city resident, ineligible" on the sheet and send it back.
Texas municipal courts do have juries(http://www.elpasotexas.gov/municipal_court/jury.asp)
Thanks for all the help with this.

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