Educators shape the minds of the next generation of leaders every day, but don’t forget you can shape the makeup of our current leadership by voting.

Early voting is underway across Texas through Nov. 1 in an election that could have a profound impact on the future of public education.

After starving public schools of funding as punishment for blocking vouchers, Gov. Greg Abbott (R) and his billionaire backers Betsy DeVos and Jeff Yass spent more than $6 million to replace pro-public education legislators with voucher supporters.

As a result, Abbott believes he now has the votes to pass a voucher bill that would permanently redirect taxpayer dollars from public schools to subsidize private school tuition, causing public schools to close and local taxes to increase for every Texas business and homeowner.

The Nov. 5 General Election represents the last opportunity to change the mathematical advantage back in our favor. Just a handful of races could determine whether we have the votes to shut down the governor’s voucher entitlement program and fully fund public schools.

Knowing how important this race is, let’s talk about what’s important to know before heading out to vote.

When and where to go

Most counties post the list of early voting locations on their website. Some even have an interactive map to help you find the nearest polling location. If your county doesn’t have a website, just call the county offices and ask where early voting is going on.

Many early voting locations are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., but times may vary by day and by location. Early voting hours are usually reduced on Saturday and Sunday. Again, check your county website or call the county offices to check the polling hours before you head out.

What to bring

First and foremost, bring one of seven valid forms of photo identification. This can be a Texas driver’s license, Texas election ID certificate, Texas personal ID card, Texas handgun license, U.S. citizenship certificate with photo, U.S. military ID card, or U.S. passport.

If you don’t have one of the seven approved forms of photo ID, you can sign a Reasonable Impediment Declaration (RID) and show a copy of one of the following approved IDs: a certified domestic birth certificate or court-admissible birth document, current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or government document with your name and address, including your voter registration certificate.

What to leave behind

State law prohibits anyone other than a licensed peace officer from bringing a firearm into a polling place. Individuals are also prohibited from wearing clothing or paraphernalia—such as hats, buttons, etc.—related to any candidate, political party, or ballot measure.

Texas law prohibits the use of wireless communications devices or any devices used to record sound or images within 100 feet of voting stations. That means you won’t be allowed to use cell phones, cameras, tablets, or laptops once you cross the 100-foot marker.

If you have notes stored on your computer or phone to help you remember how to vote, you should print those out or write them down on paper before heading out to vote. It will save you a lot of hassle.

Amplify your vote

Once you’ve voted, share your selfies and stories about what motivated you to vote. Your lone vote is important, but it is not enough. Each of us has a responsibility to not only vote ourselves but also to ensure that every registered voter in our personal orbit votes as well.

The most effective way to encourage others to vote is by sharing our personal feelings about why voting is important and how this election will affect us. For example, if we don’t elect enough legitimately pro-public education legislators, our schools could remain underfunded and experience further cuts to staff, programs, and campuses. If you feel comfortable doing so, you could even share your sample ballot. Create and print yours at Vote411.org.

Now is our last chance to shape the outcomes we want in the next legislative session. Turning out the education vote in a big way is the best shot we have. Happy voting!