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.

The event will take place on Saturday, September 12, from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM at the Doris Miller Auditoriumduring the Civic Futures Fest, hosted by the Austin City Council District 1 Office. The free, all-ages event will have candidate debates, after which attendees will be able to cast their ballot on actual 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 is the penultimate event to vote in the Austin Pet Mayor Election.

Where: Doris Miller Auditorium, 2300 Rosewood Avenue, Austin, TX 78702

When: Saturday, September 12, from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM 

Who: All ages welcome 

What: Food, music, fun, and a mock election where anyone eight years old and up can vote on Ballot Marking Devices (BMDs) provided by the Travis County Clerk’s Office.

Quote from League of Women Voters president Carol Ecklekamp:  

“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: 

“‘Paws to the Polls’ is not just a fun community event. It’s a series that helps voters build the muscle of civic engagement. When everyone can meet the candidates, watch the debates, and cast their ballots, they’re practicing the habits that make civic participation feel natural, not occasional. Events like this strengthen our shared understanding that voting is a responsibility, and that engagement grows when we nurture it, one event, one conversation, one ballot at a time.” 

###

The League of Women Voters of the Austin Area is proud to be nonpartisan, neither supporting nor opposing candidates or political parties at any level of government but always working on vital issues of concern to members and the public. We encourage informed and active participation in government, work to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influence public policy through education and advocacy.

###

The Travis County Clerk administers elections in Travis County, serves as recorder of deeds and land records, and Clerk of Travis County Courts at Law and the Statutory Probate Court. The office also issues marriage licenses and registers cattle brands.