Early voting closed Tuesday in D-FW for San Jacinto Day. What is it?

During the 14th Texas Legislature, April 21 was legally marked as a day to honor those who fought for the state’s independence.

By Morgan-Taylor Thomas
Dallas Morning News
https://www.dallasnews.com/

Early voting for the May 2 municipal election started Monday, but a statewide holiday will close North Texas polls Tuesday.

Since 1874, Texans have used April 21 as a day to commemorate the state’s independence from Mexico, called San Jacinto Day.

In 1836, Texian revolutionaries met Mexico’s general and president Santa Anna face-to-face in an 18 minute battle resulting in Texas’ independence and the formation of the Republic of Texas. During the 14th Texas Legislature, the day was legally marked as a way to honor those who fought.

Since San Jacinto Day is a state holiday, state government offices will be closed, therefore closing polls for early voting. North Texans can resume early voting Wednesday as normal. The ballot features everything from school bonds and board trustees to mayors and city council members.

Visit The Dallas Morning News’ voter guide for more info. 

When to vote

• Early voting started Monday and runs through Tuesday, April 28

• Monday is the last day to apply for a mail-in ballot

• Election day is Saturday, May 2

• Mail-in ballots time stamped before 7 p.m. May 2, will be accepted through Monday, May 4

1836 timeline of Texas independence

• Feb. 16: Santa Anna crosses the Rio Grande, pushes to suppress the Texas revolution.
  
• Feb 23: He arrives in San Antonio and the Battle of the Alamo begins.
  
• March 2: The Texas Declaration of Independence is signed by 60 delegates in near present day Navasota, forming the Republic of Texas.
  
• March 6: Mexico wins the Battle of the Alamo. 
  
• March 13: News reaches Gen. Sam Houston and troops hurry eastward.
  
• March 19: Texian Col. James Walker Fannin maintains his position while surrounded near Coleto Creek, but surrenders to Gen. José de Urrea the next day due to food, water and ammunition shortages.
  
• March 27: The Goliad Massacre — Mexican troops kill Col. Fannin, Lt. Col. William Ward and 340 other Texian prisoners at Fort Defiance, known today as the Presidio La Bahia.
  
• March 28: The Twin Sisters, a pair of six-pound guns, are gifted to the revolutionaries from the people in Cincinnati. 
  
• April 16: Gen. Houston leads his troops to face Santa Anna instead of taking them to Nacogdoches.
  
• April 21: The battle ensues and Texas independence is won.

Morgan-Taylor Thomas

Service Journalism Editor

Morgan-Taylor is the service editor at The Dallas Morning News, where she focuses on providing North Texans with information pertinent to everyday life. Previously, she was a reporter for the Midland Reporter-Telegram, Austin Chronicle and several other publications. She earned her bachelor’s at The University of Texas at Austin and MBA at UT Permian Basin. 

This story, originally published in The Dallas Morning News, is reprinted as part of a collaborative partnership between The Dallas Morning News and Texas Metro News. The partnership seeks to boost coverage of Dallas’ communities of color, particularly in southern Dallas.