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With election season just around the corner, it is totally normal to feel confused or unsure of the specifics on how to exercise your right to vote. Need help figuring out how to register, have questions about the ballot, or are unsure about anything else?
Look no further: this Texas voter guide has all the basics you need to prepare for election day.
First things first, registering to vote
Before you’re able to vote, you’ve gotta be registered!
Qualified voters must be:
- A U.S. citizen
- Be 18 years old before or on Election Day, but you can register to vote before Election Day if you’re 18
- Meet Texas’s residency requirements (you are a resident of the county where you submit the application)
- Be registered before the deadline (October 7th, 2024)
To register online, fill out this form through the Texas Secretary of State. You will be asked to provide a valid Texas driver’s license number or Social Security number. Vote.org also offers a 30-second registration form to confirm your registration status if you’re in a hurry or don’t remember if you registered.
If you’d like to have a voter registration form mailed to you, fill out this form and you will receive a paper application. You can then return the form via the included envelope.
Another way to register to vote is to visit your local voter registrar to fill out an application on-site and return it immediately. Find your local voter registrar in your county via this directory.
You must be registered 30 before Election Day per Texas law. For the 2024 general election, this means the last day to register is Monday, October 7, 2024
Election Day
Texas’ general election is Tuesday, November 5, 2024
This is the last day you will be able to cast your ballot for not just the president, but for state and local candidates.
Other Important Dates
Monday, October 7, 2024: Last day to register to vote
Monday, October 21, 2024: First day of in-person early voting
Friday, October 25, 2024: Last day to apply for a mail-in ballot
Friday, November 1, 2024: Last day of in-person early voting
How to cast your vote
You’re registered! Now it’s time to make a plan to vote. Here are your options:
In-person early voting:
Texas allows all registered voters to vote early in person. There are no special requirements necessary to take advantage of in-person early voting. For the 2024 general election, early voting will be available from Monday, October 21 until Friday, November 1.
Early voting hours and locations vary by locality. Find your polling information using this hub.
Voting by mail:
Can’t vote in person on November 5th?
You can vote before election day through mail or through an absentee ballot that allows you to vote before election day in Texas if you are physically unable to be in your city to vote.To qualify for a mail-in ballot, you must meet one of the following requirements:
- Be 65 years of age or older on Election Day
- Be sick or disabled
- Be expected to give birth within three weeks of Election Day
- Be out of the county on Election Day and during the early voting period
To complete a vote-by-mail application, you’ll be asked to provide a valid Texas driver’s license number, a Texas PIN, an Election Identification Certificate Number, or a Social Security number.
Here’s how to get your application:
- Online: Download and print your application form here OR directly request a form through the Texas Secretary of State website.
- In person: Identify your local early voting clerk’s office and visit them to retrieve an application. You can either fill it out in person on-site or return it later.
Completed applications can be returned by mail, through email, or in person to your local early voting clerk. For the 2024 general election, all vote-by-mail applications must be received by Friday, October 25 at noon or at the end of business hours– whichever occurs first.
Ballots must be received by your local early voting clerk by 7 p.m. on Election Day OR by 5 p.m. the first business day after Election Day, November 6th, if sent by mail and postmarked from within the US. If sent by mail and postmarked from outside the US, ballots must be received by November 10th, the 5th day after the election.
Time to Vote
Voting in person on Election Day can seem a bit daunting, but you’ll probably get a cool “I Voted” sticker to commemorate the experience! To vote in person, double check your polling location by visiting the Texas Secretary of State voter portal. Your location might be a local church, school, or other community building close to your registered address.
Before you leave the polls, don’t forget to bring with you a valid, unexpired ID such as a driver’s license, identification card, or U.S passport. A full list of acceptable IDs can be found here.
Polls open at 7 a.m and close at 7 p.m local time.
Get in line and stay in line– even when the polls technically close. You have the right to vote.
What to Expect
A poll worker will ask to see your photo ID. If you do not have an ID, you may provide proof of residency by filling out a Reasonable Impediment Declaration and providing a utility bill, bank statement, or other document. If you have no proof of residency or ID, you can request a provisional ballot. In this case, you will be asked to provide proof of ID within six days after Election Day at your county registrar.
The volunteer worker will hand you your ballot. Take this ballot into an empty voting booth and completely fill out each bubble with the pen provided, both front and back! You’ll then place your ballot into the provided privacy sleeve and head to the tabulation machine, where you’ll simply slide the ballot (not the sleeve) into a slot or other designated ballot return box. That’s it!
What’s on your ballot?
While everyone will select from the same presidential and statewide candidates on Election Day, every district’s ballot will include local candidates that have the ability to impact your community, so it is important to do your research before arriving at the polls to confidently cast your ballot.
To preview your personalized local ballot and know exactly what will be on it, head to BallotPedia and enter your address. If available, you’ll be able to access a sample ballot and carefully review each candidate or proposal well ahead of Election Day.
Important Rules
At the voting stations, no phones are allowed, no political garments such as buttons, hats, or shorts can be worn with your preferred candidate.
If you make a mistake on your ballot, don’t worry– you can have a redo as long as it hasn’t been submitted — simply tell the poll worker for a new ballot.
FAQs
Are you a college student and unsure if you should vote in your hometown or register with your college address?
This is a personal decision. You may either register to vote at your school address or remain registered in your home state/county. Just remember that you can only be registered to vote in one location, so be sure to update your voter registration information well in advance of Election Day. If you can’t make it home to vote and choose to remain registered in your hometown, request a mail-in or absentee ballot ahead of the appropriate deadline and return it on time so your vote is counted.
Unsure if you’ll have a ride to the polls on Election Day?
Be sure to check your public transportation options. Alternatively, there are multiple organizations willing to help. One option is RideShare2Vote, a multi-state organization that connects voters with drivers to coordinate transportation to the polls. Check out their website for details.
If you mailed in your ballot, how can you check if it was received?
The Texas Secretary of State offers a ballot-tracking tool. Find it here.
Know your rights
Voter intimidation is prohibited under federal law and involves attempting to interfere with someone’s ability to freely vote.This can include displaying false signs about voter requirements, impersonating a poll worker to spread false information, and aggressively questioning voters regarding their citizen or voting right status. Most states also have laws against political campaigning within a certain distance of a polling location. In Texas, the limit is 100 feet.
If you experience voter intimidation, report it to your local election office and call the Election Protection Hotline at 1-866-OUR-VOTE (English) or 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA (Spanish). You can find more information, including hotline options for additional languages, here.
Voting for the first time is such an important experience that truly empowers individuals to participate in shaping the future of their communities and of the country. If you have the means to vote, follow the right steps to make sure your voice is heard.
