Early voting in Texas primary election has begun. What to know before casting your ballot

If you want to get a jumpstart on voting in the March 5 primary election, your time has come.

Tuesday marks the first day of early voting in Texas for primary elections to decide candidates for the President of the United States, the U.S. Senate, all 38 Texas U.S. representatives, local political offices and much more.

Here's all you need to know about early voting, where you can vote, who's running and why it all matters:

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When is the deadline to vote early?

In Texas, the last day to vote early in the March 5 primary is March 1. After that, voters must vote in person on election day.

What do I need to vote early in Texas?

To vote early, voters must present an approved form of photo identification to poll workers at any location. A list of acceptable forms of identification can be found here.

Can I vote by mail?

Only certain groups of people are allowed to vote by mail in Texas. They include those who are:

• 65 years of age or older on Election Day

• Sick or disabled (as defined in Texas Election Code 82.002(a)) “I affirm that I have a sickness or physical condition that prevents me from appearing at the polling place on election day without a likelihood of needing personal assistance or of injuring my health.”

• Expected to give birth within three weeks before or after Election Day

• Absent from the county of registration during the early voting period and on Election Day

• Civilly committed under Chapter 841 of the Texas Health and Safety Code

• Confined in jail, but otherwise eligible

However, the last day to apply to vote by mail in Texas is Friday, Feb. 23. The application must be received by your county's board of elections — not postmarked — by that date, according to the Texas Secretary of State website.

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Who's on the ballot in the March 5 primary?

All Texas candidates running can be found here. These are races included on the Texas ballot for the March 5 primary:

• President of the United States

• U.S. Senate

• All 38 Texas U.S. representatives

• Railroad commissioner

• Texas Supreme Court (three members)

• Court of Criminal Appeals (three members)

• State Board of Education (seven members)

• Texas Senate (15 members)

• All 150 Texas House representatives

• Courts of appeals (various chief justices and justices)

• District judges, criminal district judges

• Family district judges

• District attorneys

• Sheriffs

• County Courts-at-Law

• County attorneys

• Tax assessor-collectors

• County commissioners

• Justices of the peace

• Constables

Where can I vote early in Travis County?

Travis County voters can cast their ballot early at any voting center where a “Vote Here/Aqui” sign is displayed, according to the county clerk's website.

A full list of voting locations can be found here, and a map of the locations is displayed below.

Times for voters to cast their ballot at those locations vary:

• Feb. 20 – Feb. 24: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.

• Feb. 25: Noon – 6 p.m.

• Feb. 26 – Feb. 28: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.

• Feb. 29 – March 1: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. *Extended hours at some locations, see list of early voting locations (7 a.m. – 10 p.m.)

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Click here to view the Democratic consolidated sample ballot and here to view the Republican consolidated sample ballot. You can look up your personal sample ballot and registration status here.

Where can I vote early in Bastrop County?

The locations for early voting in Bastrop County are as follows:

• Bastrop County Courthouse Annex; 804 Pecan St., Lower Level, Conference Room, Bastrop

• Smithville Recreation Center; 106 Royston St., Smithville

• Bastrop County Cedar Creek Annex; 5785 FM 535, Cedar Creek

• Elgin Recreation Center; 361 N. Hwy 95, Elgin

Times for voters to cast their ballots early are:

• Feb. 20 – Feb. 23: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

• Feb. 24: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.

• Feb 25: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

• Feb. 26 – March 1: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Click here to view the Democratic consolidated sample ballot and here to view the Republican consolidated sample ballot. You can look up your personal sample ballot and registration status here.

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Where can I vote early in Hays County?

Here's where you can vote early in Hays County:

• Broadway (Christus Trinity Clinic); 401 Broadway St. #A, San Marcos

• Hays County Elections Office; 120 Stagecoach Trail, San Marcos

• LBJ Student Center at Texas State University; 301 Student Center Drive, San Marcos

• Buda City Hall – Multipurpose Room; 405 East Loop St., Building 100, Buda

• Sunfield Station; 2610 Main St., Buda

• HCISD Administration, Old Print Shop; 21003 Interstate 35 Frontage Road, Kyle

• Kyle City Hall; 100 West Center St., Kyle

• Main Office, HCISD Transportation; 2385 High Road, Uhland

• Yarrington – Hays County Transportation Department; 2171 Yarrington Road, Kyle

• Texan Academy at Scudder – Gym; 400 Green Acres Drive, Wimberley

• Wimberley Community Center – Blanco Room; 14068 Ranch Road 12, Wimberley

• Headwaters, the HUB; 708 Headwaters Blvd., Dripping Springs

• Precinct 4 Office, Hays County; 195 Roger Hanks Parkway, Dripping Springs

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Voters can cast their ballots early at the locations above at the following times:

• Feb. 20 – Feb. 23: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

• Feb. 24: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.

• Feb 25: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.

• Feb. 26 – March 1: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Click here to view the Democratic consolidated sample ballot and here to view the Republican consolidated sample ballot.

Where can I vote early in Williamson County?

Williamson County offers several early voting places:

• Anderson Mill Limited District, Room A; 11500 El Salido Parkway, Austin

• Cedar Park Randalls; 1400 Cypress Creek Road, Cedar Park

• Cedar Park Recreation Center, Community Room; 1435 Main St., Cedar Park

• Georgetown Annex, HR 108; 100 Wilco Way, Georgetown

• Georgetown City Hall, Community Room; 808 Martin Luther King Jr. St., Georgetown

• Georgetown ISD Technology Building, Conference Room; 603 Lakeway Drive, Georgetown

• The Oaks Community Center-Sun City; 301 Del Webb Blvd., Georgetown

• Georgetown Randalls; 5721 Williams Drive, Georgetown

• Hutto Annex; 321 Ed Schmidt Blvd., Hutto

• Jarrell ISD Administration Building, Boardroom; 108 E. Ave. F, Jarrell

• Leander Public Library Annex; 1011 S. Bagdad Road, Leander

• Liberty Hill ISD Gym Annex, Gym; 301 Forest St., Liberty Hill

• Baca Senior Center, Building 2, room 3; 301 W. Bagdad Ave., Round Rock

• Brushy Creek Community Center, Maple room; 16318 Great Oaks Drive, Round Rock

• Round Rock Randalls; 2051 Gattis School Road, Round Rock

• Williamson County Jester Annex, Anderson & Harrell room; 1801 E. Old Settlers Blvd., Round Rock

• Taylor City Hall, Auditorium; 400 Porter St., Taylor

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Early polling locations in Williamson County will be open:

• Feb. 20 – Feb. 23: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

• Feb. 24: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.

• Feb 25: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.

• Feb. 26 – March 1: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Find sample ballots for Republican and Democratic candidates here.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Early voting in Texas primary: Where and when to vote in Central Texas