TRAVIS COUNTY, TEXAS - The League of Women Voters of the Austin Area and the Travis County Clerk's Office will host “Paws to the Polls: The Great Austin Pet Election.” Candidates Gus the Cat and Franklin the Dog are going head-to-head to become Austin’s next Pet Mayor.

This family-friendly event will take place on Thursday, August 13, from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at Central Health Southeast Health & Wellness Center. After evaluating the pet candidates, anyone over eight years old will have the opportunity to cast their ballot on actual Travis County voting machines. Voter registration and information will also be available onsite.

Paws to the Polls is a countywide voter‐engagement initiative designed to welcome new voters, help residents get hands‐on experience with voting equipment, and connect the community with trusted election resources. The campaign’s goal is simple: empower every eligible voter with the confidence and information they need to participate in the November election.
This event is one of several that will take place ahead of the November Election.

Where: Central Health Southeast, 2901 Montopolis Drive, Austin TX 78741
When: August 13 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Who: All ages welcome
What: Games, snow cones, popcorn, face painting, and voting in a mock election.

Quote from League of Women Voters president Carol Eckelkamp:
These events are great for new voters as they can help demystify the voting process before the 2026 Midterm Elections. We are so excited to be in partnership with the Travis County Clerk’s Office because the more opportunities people have to become familiar with voting equipment and the voting process, the more confident voters are when they show up to polling locations to
cast their actual ballot.

Quote from Travis County Clerk Dyana Limon-Mercado:
“Civic engagement keeps communities moving forward, that is why events like Paws to the Polls is so important. It strengthens the civic muscle of tuning into the issues at hand, evaluating what candidates have to say about them, and analyzing their proposals on how they would work with us to address them. Civic participation is more than declaring your support of a candidate, it is about crafting the future. It reminds us that to safeguard democracy we must show up and participate every time.”
Anyone eight years old and up can vote in this mock election.

The block party will also feature: