Early voting starts today for the March 3 primary elections. Republicans and Democrats across the state are deciding who their party's nominees will be in the November general election.
The 2026 primary election is jam-packed with pivotal state and local races.
Voters will choose their party’s candidates for Texas governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, U.S. senator and every state House seat.
Primary elections historically have low turnouts in Texas, but they give voters a chance to pick from a broader group of candidates, which means it’s more likely voters will cast their ballot for someone they feel actually represents them. Plus, due to heavy gerrymandering in Texas, some state races are all but decided in the primary election.
This guide is here to inform you on what’s on your ballot, help you make a plan to vote and get that ‘I Voted’ sticker.
What’s on my ballot?
Several key state races are on the ballot, including governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, U.S. senator, Texas comptroller and more. Here’s a breakdown on the biggest statewide races.
Your ballot will also include a congressional district race, and depending on where you live and your party affiliation, your ballot might also include one of two Travis County Commissioner races.
Four Democrats are in the running for the Precinct 4 spot, which covers a large chunk of South and Southeast Travis County. The area is guaranteed a new leader, as incumbent Margaret Gomez, who has held the position for over 30 years, announced her retirement.
Four Democrats are also running for the Precinct 2 spot, which covers part of West, Central and Eastern Travis County north of the river. Three candidates are challenging incumbent Brigid Shea, who has held the position since 2015.
Voters will also see several state propositions and several other county-level offices, including district judges and justices, on the ballot.
For a Republican sample ballot, click here. For a Democratic sample ballot, click here. You can also find a personalized ballot based on where you live by visiting the Vote 411 website.
Am I registered to vote?
You can check your voter registration by going to the Texas Secretary of State’s My Voter Portal. The deadline to register for this election has passed. If you missed the deadline, you can get registered for the next election by visiting the Vote Texas website.
When and where can I vote?
Early voting in Travis County begins Feb. 17 and runs through Feb. 27. Election Day is Tuesday, March 3. Travis County residents can vote at any polling location within the county.
Travis County polling locations are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. On Sunday, the polls are open from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
On the last two days of early voting, Thursday, Feb. 26, and Friday, Feb. 27, seven early voting locations will be open until 10 p.m. Those locations are:
• Ben Hur Shrine Center
• Carver Branch Library
• Lakeway Activity Center
• PfISD Rock Gym
• Randalls Brodie
• Travis County Clerk, 5501 Airport Blvd.
• UT Texas Union
Travis County polling locations are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on March 3, Election Day. As long as you're in line by the time polls close, you can cast your ballot.
What do I bring with me to the polls?
Make sure to bring a photo ID. The ID should be up to date or can be expired up to four years. Voters 70 or older can bring a photo ID that has been expired for any length of time. Here are the accepted forms of ID:
- Texas driver's license
- Texas election identification certificate
- Texas personal identification card
- Texas handgun license
- U.S. military identification card that includes the person's photograph
- U.S. citizenship certificate that includes the person's photograph
- U.S. passport
If you had trouble getting an ID and don’t have one, here are some alternatives:
- government document showing your name and an address, such as your voter registration certificate
- current utility bill
- bank statement
- government check
- paycheck
- birth certificate or court admissible birth document
All of these documents can be either a copy or the original. If you use one of these, you’ll have to sign a form that says you had a reasonable impediment to getting an ID.
What should I not bring to the polls?
Voters should not bring with them any recording or photography equipment including cellphones, handheld cameras, or digital phones. Any recording of the area where voting happens is not allowed. Any notes should be written or printed out on paper.
Voters should also remember to not wear any clothing that supports any party, candidate, or proposition, even if they're not on the ballot.
What if I want to vote by mail?
Not everyone is eligible to vote by mail. You have to apply, and the deadline is Friday, Feb. 20, at 5 p.m.
Registered voters in Texas can vote by mail if they:
- will be away from their county on Election Day and during early voting;
- are sick or disabled;
- are 65 or older on Election Day;
- are confined in jail, but eligible to vote; or
- are expecting to give birth within three weeks before or after Election Day.
You can print and complete an application here in English and here in Spanish. You have to apply every election for a mail-in ballot, even if you did it last year.
Once you get your mail-in ballot, there are some extra deadlines you should keep in mind to make sure your ballot is received on time:
- Postmarked: March 3 by 7 p.m.
- Post received: March 4 by 5 p.m.
- In-person received: March 3 by 7 p.m.
- Post received from military members or voters overseas: March 9
You can only hand deliver a mail-in ballot to the county elections office on Election Day, and you will need to show a photo ID. A friend or relative is not allowed to turn your ballot in for you.
Recent changes at the U.S. Postal Office might affect when your mail is postmarked. There may be delays from when the mail is dropped off to when it's processed due to changes in USPS operations, according to the Travis County Clerk’s Office.
Remember, your ballot must be postmarked by March 3. If you are concerned about missing that deadline, you can ask for a "manual postmark" at the post office.
You can track the status of your mail-in ballot using the Texas Secretary of State’s ballot tracker.
