Voting Guide

By Mail

Absentee ballot application:

webservices.sos.state.tx.us/forms/5-15f.pdf

Texas voters may only vote by mail if they:

• Will be away from their county on Election Day and during the in-person early voting period;

• Are sick or have a disability;

• Are at least 65 years old on Election Day;

• Expect to give birth within 3 weeks before or after Election Day;

• Are civilly committed; or

• Are confined in jail not serving a sentence for a felony conviction.

You may submit an absentee ballot application to the early voting clerk in person or by mail, email or fax. If the request is faxed or emailed, then the original, hard copy of the application MUST be mailed and received by the early voting clerk no later than the 4th business day after the clerk received the fax or email.

The absentee ballot application requires the voter to provide a DPS-issued driver’s license number, personal identification number, or Election Identification Certificate Number, or the last four digits of the voter’s Social Security number. Voters without one of these numbers must check the provided box to indicate that they lack such identification. In an abundance of caution, voters with both a DPS-issued identification number and a Social Security number should provide both numbers on the application form.

All applications must be received by the county clerk no later than the 11th day before election day by the close of regular business or noon, whichever is later. If the 11th day is a weekend or holiday, the deadline is the first preceding business day.

Voters may only submit completed absentee ballots in person to the early voting clerk’s office while polls are open on Election Day, and no later than 7 p.m. Voters returning their ballot in person must show acceptable voter ID.

Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked by 7 p.m. on Election Day, using the time zone in which the early voting clerk’s office is located, and received no later than 5 p.m. the day after Election Day. If not postmarked, they must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day.

Voters must provide a DPS-issued driver’s license number, personal identification number, or Election Identification Certificate Number, or the last four digits of the voter’s Social Security number in the space provided on the carrier envelope. Voters without one of these numbers must check the provided box to indicate that they lack such identification. In an abundance of caution, voters with both a DPS-issued identification number and Social Security number should provide both numbers on the carrier envelope.

For more information about Texas’s vote-by-mail rules, visit: votetexas.gov/voting-by-mail

Early In-person

Voters in Texas may vote early in person generally starting the 17th day before Election Day (if that is a weekend, early voting starts on the next business day). The early voting period ends the 4th day before Election Day. Different start dates apply for certain elections. Contact your county’s election official for early voting locations and hours.

Under Texas law, curbside voting is available during the early voting period for voters who are physically unable to enter the polling place without assistance or likelihood of injury to their health. The Secretary of State’s office recommends that voters who plan to vote curbside call their county election officials in advance.

Election Day

Voting sites will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day. If you are in line by close of polls, then you have the right to vote.

Under Texas law, curbside voting is available upon request on Election Day for voters who are physically unable to enter the polling place without assistance or likelihood of injury to their health. The Secretary of State’s office recommends that voters who plan to vote curbside call their county election officials in advance.