FLC OF AN MD SUPER 80 FORGOT TO RESET THE SEAT BELT SIGN FROM 'AUTO' TO 'ON' PRIOR TO PUSHBACK; TAXI AND TKOF. HOWEVER; SINCE THE SWITCH WAS IN 'AUTO;' THE SEAT BELT SIGN WOULD HAVE AUTOMATICALLY LIT WHEN THE WING SLATS WERE DEPLOYED DURING TAXI OUT. THEREFORE; SEAT BELT SIGN WAS NOT ON DURING PUSHBACK AND PART OF TAXI.

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I WAS THE CAPT ON THIS FLT. DUE TO FAR LEGALITIES; THE CREW ARRIVED AT ELP LATE THE PREVIOUS NIGHT. THE FLT WAS DELAYED APPROX 45 MINS. AFTER COORDINATING WITH THE AGENTS; I CONCURRED WITH THE REQUEST TO LEAVE EARLY; IF ALL THE PAX WERE ABOARD. WHILE WAITING TO SEE IF WE WOULD; IN FACT; BE ABLE TO DEPART CLOSER TO OUR ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED DEP TIME; I HAD THE SEATBELT SIGN OFF; IN THE AUTO POS. IN THE LAST MIN RUSH TO DEPART A FEW MINS EARLY; I NEGLECTED TO TURN THE SEATBELT SIGN ON PRIOR TO DEPARTING THE GATE; AND DID NOT NOTICE IT TILL IMMEDIATELY AFTER TKOF. I THEN PUT THE SIGN ON. NOTE; THE SIGN WAS PROBABLY ON FOR TKOF BECAUSE THE SWITCH WAS IN THE AUTO POS; AND THE SIGN WOULD HAVE ILLUMINATED WITH SLAT EXTENSION; WHICH WAS DONE ON INITIAL TAXI OUT. HOWEVER; THE SIGN WAS OFF DURING THE PUSHBACK. I NORMALLY MARK MY CHKLIST WHEN AN ITEM NEEDS TO BE RETURNED TO; BUT I GOT OUT OF MY ROUTINE AND BLEW IT. EVERYONE WAS SEATED AND BELTED IN; THE FLT ATTENDANTS DID THEIR SAFETY CHK; NO TURB WAS ENCOUNTERED; AND NO ONE GOT HURT. HOWEVER; I SHOULD NOT HAVE MISSED THE ITEM; AND WILL RE-EMPHASIZE THE USE OF THE CHKLIST.