It’s time to head to the polls again! Election Day for the Texas primary is on Tuesday, March 5. But before you go out and participate in democracy, you need to make sure you're registered to vote and have everything you need to cast your ballot. Here's what to know.
Am I registered to vote?
You can confirm your voter registration status through the Texas Secretary of State's “My Voter Portal.” If you see that you're not registered, the deadline for this election has passed — but you can visit the Vote Texas site to learn how to register for future elections.
When and where can I vote?
You have to vote at a polling location in the county where you live.
Travis County voting centers are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day. Check the Travis County clerk's website for live wait times there.
Williamson County and Hays County voting locations are also open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on March 5.
Find a list of Williamson County voting locations on the county's website.
Find a list of Hays County voting locations on the county's website.
Voting by mail?
Not everyone is allowed to vote by mail in Texas. You can only vote by mail if you:
- will be out of your registered county on Election Day and the entire early voting period
- are 65 years or older by Election Day
- expecting to give birth within three weeks before or after Election Day;
- are sick or disabled; or
- confined in jail, but otherwise eligible.
The deadline to submit a request for a mail-in ballot has passed. The last day to postmark and return a completed mail-in ballot is Tuesday, March 5.
To vote by mail, print the “Application for Ballot by Mail” or submit an online request for it to be mailed to you. Simply fill out the required sections and sign your name with the date, then mail the completed application to the early voting clerk in your county, or fax the application. You can visit the Texas Secretary of State website for more guidance.
What do I bring with me to the polls?
Everyone is required to bring some sort of photo identification to the polls. There are seven acceptable forms of photo 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
Voters’ ID should remain up to date, but cannot exceed four years past its original expiration. Voters aged 70 or older can bring a valid photo ID that has expired for any length of time.
If you cannot provide a photo ID during election season, here are the acceptable alternatives:
- certified domestic birth certificate or court-admissible birth document
- government document showing your name and an address (i.e. your voter registration certificate)
- bank statement
- paycheck
- current utility bill
- government check
After presenting either the original or a copy of these documents, you will sign a reasonable impediment declaration.
You are not allowed to use any sort of wireless communication device inside the voting booth, but you can bring written materials, such as a paper with your selected candidates, to assist you in casting your ballot.
Important dates for the March 5 election
- Feb. 23 — Deadline to request a mail-in ballot
- Feb. 20 to March 1 — Early voting
- March 5 — Election Day
Deadlines for mail-in ballots:
- Postmarked: March 5
- Post received: March 6 at 5 p.m.
- In-person received: March 5 at 7 p.m.