Hays County has about 150,000 registered voters who could participate in the 2020 general election. In addition to voting on the next president, Hays County voters have the chance to decide on a number of state and local races.
Here's everything you need to know to vote in Hays County this election. (Live in Travis County? Click here. Williamson? Click here.)
Make Sure You’re Registered
Go here to verify your registration anywhere in the state. The deadline to register to vote in Texas was Oct. 5.
COVID-19 Precautions
County officials are recommending that voters wear masks when they go to the polls. The county is placing voting machines 6 feet apart as a health precaution. Poll workers sit behind plexiglass barriers, and voters are encouraged to bring their own pen and an unsharpened pencil, if possible, to check in and mark their ballots.
The county put together a video to show what safety precautions will look like at the polls:
Polling Locations
You must vote at a location in the county where you live. Below is a map of 12 early voting locations in Hays County.
The county's early voting location times vary by week.
Week one:
- Tuesday, Oct. 13 to Friday, Oct. 16 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Saturday, Oct. 17 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Sunday, Oct. 18 from 1 to 6 p.m.
Week two:
- Monday, Oct. 19 to Friday, Oct. 23 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Saturday, Oct. 24 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Sunday, Oct. 25: from 1 to 6 p.m.
Week three:
- Monday, Oct. 26 to Friday, Oct. 30 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
On Election Day, Nov. 3, the county will have 36 polling locations open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. A list of those can be found here.
Don’t Forget An ID
Bring a photo ID that is up to date, or expired up to four years, to the polls. Voters 70 or older can bring a photo ID that has been expired for any length of time.
If you had trouble getting an ID and just don’t have one, you can bring one of these:
- A government document showing your name and an address, like your voter registration certificate
- A bank statement
- A government check
- A paycheck
- A current utility bill
- Your birth certificate
If you use one of these, you’ll have to sign a form that says you had a reasonable impediment to getting an ID.
Want To Vote By Mail?
You have until Oct. 23 to apply for a mail-in ballot. KUT put together a guide on how to vote by mail here.
Hays County residents can hand deliver their mail-in ballots, if they don't want to mail them in. A station is set up at the Elections Office in the Government Center at 712 South Stagecoach Trail, Ste. 1012, San Marcos, where you can deposit your mail-in ballot.
What’s On The Ballot?
We’ve put together a voter guide to help you learn more about who and what is on the ballot in Hays County. You can also find your sample ballot on the county website.
