As the Nation approaches another critical election cycle, millions of Americans will cast their votes to decide the country’s future leadership. With both the presidential election and key senate races on the ballot and voting and key dates of these elections coming up, it’s important to understand how the outcome of this vote will shape policy and governance across the United States.

Presidential candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, along with their vice presidents, JD Vance and Tim Walz,  have had their debates and shared plans and concepts they would execute if they were to be voted into office. As Nov. 5 nears, Cedar Park will become one of many voting locations in our area for the ballots. Voting for the Congress and President will influence the passage of laws in the coming years.

Presidential Candidates:

Trump’s slogan; “Make America Great Again” will revolve around the main changes of mass deportation of undocumented Immigrants, trying to resolve the Palestinian War, and increasing the drilling for oil and coal so the U. S. can be dominant in the field of lowest-cost energy and electricity, according to Trump’s Platform Website. The website also states that in schools, Trump will give the states the power to run our education system and will do that by abolishing the Department of Education. According to the U.S. Department of Education’s website, this will affect how schools will establish effective systems, as that’s the department’s main goal. Another concept he plans to implement indicated in his 15-page 2024 GOP Platform document is limiting transgender rights by declaring only two recognized genders. His Vice President candidate, Vance,  focuses on some of his pro-family choices, particularly including the support of IVF, but also allowing states to restrict women’s access to abortion according to CBS News. More of Vance’s policies in the article include ending the additional aid to Ukraine, mass deportation along stricter border policies. Vance also emphasizes the importance of American workers keeping their own money with his strategy to cut taxes.

On the Democratic side, Harris, who joined the ticket in place of President Joe Biden in July, shares key points that are very similar to Biden’s. She advocates on her website for the protection of abortion rights and immigration reforms as well as tax breaks for working and middle-class Americans, an expanded child tax credit, and the prevention of purchasing guns without background checks. Harris also supports Israel while also acknowledging the impact of its conflicts on Palestinian civilians. In Time Magazine her vice president candidate, Walz, supports free school meals, middle-class tax cuts and substantial measures aimed at tackling climate change. Walz also believes in the motto that abortion is healthcare.

The one presidential debate between Harris and Trump this year was on Sept. 10. Trump has declined another based on the belief that he won the debate, said CNN. However, political analysts and controversy through social media say otherwise. During the debate, Trump-connected Vice President Harris to increased immigration, warning that more migrants could worsen crime, strain resources and heighten economic problems, these claims however are not proven factual. He even went as far as stating that immigrants in Springfield, Missouri have been ‘eating’ citizens’ pets during the debate, another false claim. Trump also made claims that Harris supported after-birth abortion, this was quite quickly shut down by Harris who stated that wasn’t true. In a sharp exchange, Trump argued that Harris is ‘perceivably’ weak on international trade issues, while she emphasized the importance of strengthening alliances such as NATO. Additionally, Harris championed the fight against climate change, advocating for increased investments in clean energy. Watch all these exchanges in the full video of the  Trump vs. Harris debate.

CNN writes that the independent party of Cornel West who is a written-in vote (not recognized in Texas) has vowed to pressure Israel into agreeing to a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and withdrawing from Palestinian territories, while also proposing to cut off U.S. aid to Ukraine and cancel NATO. His platform includes commitments to halt federal oil and gas leasing and provide reparations to Black Americans. CNN also talks about another one of the countries’ female candidates, Jill Stein, the Green Party nominee, whose policies have introduced a climate policy aimed at achieving zero carbon emissions ahead of the timelines proposed in the “Green New Deal” by progressive Democrats. Her proposal also includes withdrawing US support for Israel and Ukraine, guaranteeing free public education from pre-K through college, canceling all medical debt, and doubling the number of Supreme Court justices with 18-year term limits. On the Chase Oliver Vote platform, Oliver, a Libertarian nominee, supports simplifying citizenship for immigrants, expanding work visas, and withdrawing the US from foreign conflicts. He also wants to eliminate the Federal Reserve, decriminalize marijuana, and push for the decriminalization of all drugs.

United States Senate Race in Texas: 

Incumbent Ted Cruz (R), Colin Allred a (D), Ted Brown (Libertarian), and Tracy Andrus (write-in) are the candidates who are running for the U.S. Senate race in Texas. Thirty-three of the seats are up for regular election and two states. Nebraska and California are for a special election. Democrats, as of now, have the majority in the Senate with 51 seats controlled to Republicans’ 49. 

Incumbent Ted Cruz is a former prosecutor and son of a preacher and is a Republican favorite who has more conservative viewpoints.  In terms of budget and debt, Cruz supports the idea of a balanced budget amendment to cut down on deficits and public debt in the states. He believes, according to PBS News that a Constitutional Amendment will be the best way to cut down on current economic budgeting problems. His intentions have been clear on ending corporate income tax and programs, such as the Export-Import Bank. In its place, as addressed by PBS News, a consumption-based tax would be implemented. Cruz has told voters in Iowa that he is against subsidies for renewable energy as he believes the industry can compete without the federal funds currently provided.

Regarding issues of education, Cruz stresses that he wants to repeal the Common Core education standards. This belief of Cruz is backed up by his involvement as a co-sponsor of the Local Control of Education Act. This Act, according to Education Week, allows the states to opt out of standards like Common Core without affecting their ability to receive federal grant money. 

Concerning issues such as immigration, Cruz stands to block any current effort that lets undocumented immigrants legally remain in the United States. Cruz shows opposition to former President Barack Obama’s executive actions on immigration.  He argues that many actions taken by the former president have encouraged illegal immigration. 

Furthermore, Cruz opposes any federal, state, or local taxes for accessing the Internet; though this would cost his home state around $358 million a year, according to PBS News. The idea of “net neutrality” is strongly opposed by Cruz. Net neutrality is the idea that companies that provide internet access must provide the same speed and access, without favor) for all websites. Cruz believes that blocking service providers and blocking innovation is a solution to the issue of different charging rates. Another economic belief of Cruz is the opposition to Obamacare, as he wants to repeal it in its entirety. Cruz’s plan for taxes and the IRS includes calling for a “Simple Flat Tax” of 10% for all incomes over $36,000 a year for families of four. In doing so, he would eliminate the Estate Tax and the Alternative Minimum Taxes. This would create a flat 16% “business flat tax” that would tax consumption. The senator argues that the IRS would be unnecessary and should be abolished. 

Colin Allred, who is running as a Democrat, has been committed to restoring a fundamental promise for future generations of good-paying jobs and an economy that’s efficient for all. He’s been an advocate for small business, raising wages for workers and earning the U.S chamber of Commerce’s Advocate for American Business Award according to his webpage. He is one of the few members in Congress to be endorsed by both the U.S. Chamber and the leading labor unions like AFL-CIO in his reelection campaigns. Allred has secured over $14 million for local institutions like Dallas College, University of Texas at Dallas and Texas A&M Commerce to help support and expand their job training efforts according to his official Congressman website. In Congress, he revised the USMCA trade deal with Mexico and Canada, supporting many Texas jobs, voted for the Paycheck Fairness Act and voted to raise the minimum wage as said on his webpage.

Alred has invested efforts and time in public schooling and wants to ensure that the resources needed are provided. These investments include school infrastructure renovations, lowering the cost of child care, increasing teacher pay and driving down the cost of higher education across the board so middle-class families are not indebted for years. 

Regarding immigration, he’s worked to protect Dreamers, who are primarily undocumented students who are tackling issues regarding education, immigration, and citizenship, and voted for the bipartisan Dream and Promise Act, which is a solution to ensure young people who are here through no fault of their own can stay in the country, as it’s the only one they know. Allred believes more should be done to support border communities and those affected. 

Alred believes that health care should be accessible to all Texans, attacking those against the Affordable Care Act to maintain protections for people with pre-existing health conditions, while expanding coverage for those who are working families. His support for the Affordable Care Act enables him to aim for accessible health insurance that is affordable to Americans. 

His priorities include expanding Medicaid, lowering prescription drug costs, quality healthcare, restoring reproductive rights for women, expanding healthcare to rural communities, investing in addiction treatments, holding medical insurance companies accountable and increasing mental health services. He wishes to restore the protections under Roe v Wade. 

Furthermore, he believes women should have the freedom to make their own reproductive health care decisions, with no interference from the government. Alred, according to his campaign page, strongly opposes the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision and supports legislation to restore the protections under Roe v. Wade. According to his U.S. Congressman page, Allred is working currently to expand access to birth control and speaking out against Texas’ laws on abortion which outlaw abortion including in cases of rape and incest. Allred has been an outspoken supporter of LGBTQ+ rights, voting to protect Texans from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. On his webpage. Allred is currently working to fight for fairness for women, voting for guaranteed equal pay, and reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act. 

Ted Brown, who is running as a Libertarian, has ideas to fix the justice system by introducing legal requirements for jurors that permit them to judge the law as well as the facts of the case. According to his webpage, this will permit defense attorneys to defend their clients by saying that the law is wrong. Brown supports the end of jury tampering by both the prosecution and the defense by seating the first 12 of the jurors with no financial stake in the outcome of the case nor personal experience with the parties. Brown stresses on his webpage that he is opposed to the mandatory minimum sentences, instead promoting the idea of giving jurors the right to set the sentence in all cases; up to the maximum allowed by law. 

Brown also highlights on his website that he does not support the death penalty, as he believes it is a fundamental human rights violation. He suggests instead premeditated murderers should face life in prison without the possibility of parole. 

Regarding education, Brown wants to abolish the federal Department of Education. Brown believes that what is needed is the complete separation of school and the government in order to guarantee decent education for future generations. Brown is clear in his want to abolish the DoE. 

When talking about healthcare, Brown believes that it is not a right nor a privilege, but simply a service like other goods that should be provided by free-market competition. Immediate reforms that Brown would like to start include the promotion of Medical Savings Accounts (similar to IRAs) and making health care expenses tax-deductible, allowing people to buy health insurance across state lines. He also supports allowing insurance companies to offer limited, catastrophic policies, replacing the FDA with private-sector drug certification, and allowing people to buy drugs from other countries, and even over-the-counter without prescriptions.

When asked about the issues of immigration, Brown spoke about the possible solutions being to embrace liberty and free markets. In doing so, he supports the idea of the free movement of people across international borders. Brown’s viewpoints are influenced by the idea that immigrants contribute to the economy rather than detract from it. As the U.S. is known as a melting pot, Brown suggests understanding the meaning that the U.S. is a nation of immigrants. He supports the idea of free movement across borders and embraces the “melting pot” culture. 

Tracy Andrus, a masters-degree owning professor, is the final candidate for the Texas Senate and is running as an Independent write-in. He advocates for better laws, higher teacher salaries and expanding pardoning powers. He wishes to support the creation of safer schools with more developed protective measures. 

Andrus believes that healthcare should be for all in Texas and that homelessness should end with increased support; including the homelessness of veterans. 

Dr. Andrus supports a woman’s right to choose. He supports drilling for oil in Texas and the Gulf of Mexico. He aims to overhaul the criminal justice system, decriminalize marijuana and combat domestic terrorism. 

Andrus also hopes to promote new green energy and remove barriers to voting for ex-offenders. He pledges to address climate change by eliminating carbon pollution from power plants by 2035.

Dr. Andrus will push for federal legislation allowing all Texans to vote, regardless of probation or parole status and hopes for better access to capital and comprehensive immigration reform.

Adults have the important chance to participate in the democratic process by casting their votes for the president and senate at approved voting locations within close proximity to them. Conveniently, a comprehensive list of these voting sites can be easily accessed on the official Williamson County website and at the Travis County Website By exercising their voting rights, individuals can play a significant role in shaping the future leadership of both their country and state. On these websites, you can also access sample ballots and see what else is on this year’s ballot. For more information on other races on the ballot look at Vote411.org