How to vote in Texas
Texas voter registration guide
Texas voter registration deadlines
- Register to vote (online): 30 days before Election Day (Note: Online registration is not available to first-time voters in TX)
- Register to vote (by mail): Postmarked 30 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (in person): 30 days before Election Day
Check your Texas voter registration status
- If you can't remember if you're registered to vote, or you want to make sure your information is correct, you can check your Texas registration using the Texas voter registration lookup site.
- If you're not registered to vote, or you need to update your voter registration information, follow the instructions below.
Texas voter registration rules
To register in Texas you must:
- be a citizen of the United States
- be a resident of the county in which the application for registration is made
- be 17 years and 10 months old (you must be 18 to vote)
- not have been convicted of a felony, or if you have been convicted of a felony, you must have fully discharged your punishment, including any incarceration, parole, supervision, period of probation, or be pardoned
- have not been declared mentally incompetent by final judgment of a court of law
Texas online voter registration
- You can register to vote online if you ARE NOT a first-time voter in Texas. If you have never registered to vote in Texas before, please choose to register by mail. - If you are already registered to vote in Texas and need to update your name, home address, or political party, you can complete this process online. You will need a Texas driver's license or state ID card and your Voter Unique Identifier (VUID). - You can find your VUID by visiting the Texas SOS My Voter Portal; use the "Am I registered" tool on the right side of the screen, and choose "Name, County, Date of Birth" as the selection criteria.
- Visit the Texas online voter registration site.
- Fill out all the required fields.
- You will be registered to vote as soon as you finish the workflow.
- You should receive your voter registration card in the mail within 2-3 weeks. If not, you might want to follow up with your local election office.
- The deadline to register to vote online is 30 days before Election Day (Note: Online registration is not available to first-time voters in TX) .
Texas by-mail voter registration
- Download and fill out the National Voter Registration Form.
- Box 6 - ID Number: Enter your TX driver’s license number. If you do not have a driver’s license, enter the last 4 digits of your social security number. If you have neither, please write “NONE” on the form.
- Box 7 - Choice of Party: You do not need to register with a party to take part in that party’s primary election, caucus, or convention.
- Box 8 - Race or Ethnic Group: Leave blank.
- Print, date, and sign the form. If you do not have a printer, you can print the form out at any local library. If you do not have a stamp, you can buy one from any grocery store: just ask the cashier to sell you one.
- Mail your voter registration form to the mailing address below. For faster delivery, send the form directly to your local election office.
- Your voter registration form must be postmarked 30 days before Election Day .
Texas in-person voter registration
- Contact your local election office to find where to register to vote in person.
- Bring your Texas driver's license or state ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring ONE photo ID that shows your name, and ONE document that shows your name and Texas address. Acceptable documents include a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, or any government document that shows your name and address.
Texas same day registration
Registering to vote in Texas with a felony conviction
If you have been convicted of a felony and would like to register to vote, please visit Restore Your Vote. They will help you determine your eligibility and guide you through the process.
Texas absentee and mail ballot guide
Texas absentee ballot overview
Absentee ballots and mail ballots are the same thing, and the process for getting one is straight forward.
- Request your ballot by the deadline
- Receive your in ballot in the mail
- Return your ballot by the deadline
Texas absentee deadlines
- Earliest day to apply: January 1
- Request deadline (online): N/A
- Request deadline (by mail): Received 11 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (in person): 11 days before Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (by mail): Received by Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (in person): Received by Election Day
Texas absentee ballot rules
You can vote using an absentee ballot in Texas if:
- you are 65 years or older
- you are disabled
- you will be out of the county on Election Day and during the early voting period
- you are in jail but not yet convicted of a crime
Texas online ballot request
Texas does not allow you to request your ballot online.
Texas by-mail ballot request
- Download the Texas absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Print the application.
- Sign and date your application. This is very important.
- Mail or hand-deliver your completed application directly to your local election office as soon as possible, but no later than the deadline.
- If it’s close to the deadline, call your local election office and see if they will let you submit your application via email or fax.
- Your application must be received 11 days before Election Day .
Texas in-person ballot request
- Visit your local election office.
- Ask the clerk to give you an absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Sign and date your application.
- The deadline to apply in person is 11 days before Election Day .
After you receive your ballot
- Carefully read and follow the instructions, and fill out all required fields.
- Sign and date the outside envelope.
- Mail or hand-deliver your ballot to your local election office.
- If you mail your ballot, it must be received by Election Day .
- If you hand-deliver your ballot, it must be received by Election Day .
- If you miss the deadline – or forget to sign the outside envelope – your vote will not be counted.
Texas absentee ballot ID requirements
- ID required when requesting a mail-in ballot: You must include your TX driver's license number, or state ID number, or the last four digits of your Social Security Number on your absentee ballot application. Additionally, the signature on your absentee ballot application will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match.
- ID required when returning a mail-in ballot: * If you return your voted ballot by mail, your local election official will compare your signature on the outside envelope to the one on your voter registration form to make sure they match. * If you return your ballot in person, you will need to show a government issued photo ID card. You cannot show a student ID card, even if the ID was issued by the University of Texas.
Texas absentee ballot tracker
Track your ballot here: Texas absentee ballot tracker
Texas absentee ballot curing
Ballot curing is the process of resolving any problems with your absentee or mail ballot to ensure that your vote is counted. After tracking your ballot, contact your local election office to fix any issues that have been noted.
- Your mail ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if the ID number provided on your ballot carrier envelope does not match the one that you provided on your registration application.
- Your ballot will also be rejected if the signature on the outside envelope does not match the signature on your voter registration form.
- You have until the 6th day after Election Day to correct issues with your ballot in person at the clerk's office.
Texas emergency ballots
Some states have special procedures that allow you to obtain an emergency ballot if a medical or other emergency occurs after the standard absentee ballot application window.
Emergency Ballot RulesIllness or disability If on or after 11 days before Election Day you have a sickness or physical condition that prevents you from voting in person, you may submit a request for a late ballot. Your request must be accompanied by a statement from your medical practioner.
Death of a relative If a family member within the second degree dies 4 days before Election Day or later, and you will be absent from your county of residence, you may request a late ballot. You will have to include a statement with the date of death and your relationship to the deceased person. The application must be submitted before the close of business 1 day before Election Day
- Emergency ballot request starts 11 days before Election Day
- Emergency ballot request ends for illness or disability, 5PM Election Day, for a relative's death, close of business 1 day before Election Day
- Emergency ballot return deadline is Election Day
Contact your local election office
Texas early voting guide
Texas early voting dates
- Early voting starts: 17 days before Election Day
- Early voting ends: 4 days before Election Day
What to bring
You must show a photo ID issued by the State of Texas or the Federal Government when you vote in person. You cannot use a student ID to vote in Texas. If you are under 70, you can use an expired ID as long as it expired within the past 4 years. If you're over 70, an expired photo ID is fine. If you don't have an acceptable ID, you can still vote if you sign an affidavit and also provide a document that shows your name and Texas address. Acceptable documents include a recent bank statement, utility bill, paycheck, residential lease, or any government document that shows your name and home address.
Texas voter ID guide
ID requirements for voting in person
You must show a photo ID issued by the State of Texas or the Federal Government when you vote in person. You cannot use a student ID to vote in Texas. If you are under 70, you can use an expired ID as long as it expired within the past 4 years. If you're over 70, an expired photo ID is fine. If you don't have an acceptable ID, you can still vote if you sign an affidavit and also provide a document that shows your name and Texas address. Acceptable documents include a recent bank statement, utility bill, paycheck, residential lease, or any government document that shows your name and home address.
ID requirements when requesting an absentee or mail ballot
You must include your TX driver's license number, or state ID number, or the last four digits of your Social Security Number on your absentee ballot application. Additionally, the signature on your absentee ballot application will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match.
ID requirements when returning an absentee or mail ballot
- If you return your voted ballot by mail, your local election official will compare your signature on the outside envelope to the one on your voter registration form to make sure they match.
- If you return your ballot in person, you will need to show a government issued photo ID card. You cannot show a student ID card, even if the ID was issued by the University of Texas.
ID requirements for online voter registration
You can register to vote online if you ARE NOT a first-time voter in Texas. If you have never registered to vote in Texas before, please choose to register by mail.
- If you are already registered to vote in Texas and need to update your name, home address, or political party, you can complete this process online. You will need a Texas driver's license or state ID card and your Voter Unique Identifier (VUID).
- You can find your VUID by visiting the Texas SOS My Voter Portal; use the "Am I registered" tool on the right side of the screen, and choose "Name, County, Date of Birth" as the selection criteria.
Local election office
Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Statewide election office
This is the statewide agency that is ultimately responsible for Texas elections. You can contact them with questions, but your local election office will probably respond faster.
Office of the Secretary of State Elections Division P.O. Box 12060 Austin, TX 78711‐2060
External resources
- Texas online voter registration
- Texas voter status lookup
- Texas absentee ballot tracker
- Texas polling place locator