Early voting in Texas starts April 24. Find your polling location and what you need to vote

Sarah Ann Dueñas, Austin American-Statesman
Updated ·6 min read

Texans are returning to the polls for early voting before the May 6 election.

Early voting begins Monday, April 24, and continues until May 2 for those who want to cast a ballot in person.

Here’s what to know about casting your ballot in Texas.

When is early voting in Texas?

Early voting begins April 24 and runs through May 2.

Election Day is May 6.

What's on the ballot?

To find voting locations and sample ballots, visit:

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Where can I vote?

During early voting, you can cast a ballot at any polling location. You can look up locations beginning two days prior to the start of early voting by entering your name, county, date of birth and ZIP code. Hours of operation vary by location.

Most counties in Central Texas — excluding Caldwell — allow you to vote at any polling location on Election Day. Polling locations are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day.

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What do I need to bring with me to vote?

You’ll need to bring one of these seven forms of acceptable photo identification to vote:

  • Texas driver's license issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety.

  • Texas election identification certificate issued by the DPS.

  • Texas personal identification card issued by the DPS.

  • Texas handgun license issued by the DPS.

  • U.S. military identification card containing your photograph.

  • U.S. citizenship certificate containing your photograph.

  • U.S. passport.

A student ID is not considered an acceptable form of identification in Texas.

Does my acceptable photo ID address need to match my voter registration address?

No. You should vote where you’re registered and currently live.

Can I use an expired ID?

Yes. If you’re under 70, you can use an ID that expired in the last four years. Residents 70 or older can use an ID no matter when it expired.

What if I can’t get an acceptable photo ID?

Then you’ll need to sign a “Reasonable Impediment Declaration” that states your reason for not being able to obtain such an ID. You’ll also need to present one of these documents:

  • A voter registration certificate.

  • A current utility bill.

  • A bank statement.

  • A government check.

  • A paycheck.

  • A birth certificate.

  • A document confirming birth admissible in a court of law that establishes your identity (including a foreign birth document).

A “reasonable impediment” includes any of the following:

  • Lack of transportation.

  • Lack of birth certificate or other documents needed to obtain a photo ID.

  • Work schedule.

  • Lost or stolen identification.

  • Disability or illness.

  • Family responsibilities.

  • Acceptable form of photo ID applied for but not received.

Am I eligible for mail-in voting?

Applicants considering voting by mail must be either:

  • 65 years or older.

  • Sick or disabled.

  • Out of the county on election day and during the period for early voting.

  • Expecting to give birth within three weeks before or after election day.

  • Confined in jail, but otherwise eligible.

College students who are living in a different county from where they’re registered to vote can also vote by mail.

Texas’ Election Code defines an appropriate sickness or disability as one that “prevents the voter from appearing at the polling place on election day without a likelihood of needing personal assistance or of injuring the voter's health.” It’s up to voters to decide if their sickness or disability warrants voting by mail.

How do I vote by mail?

You can download the application or request an application be mailed to you from the secretary of the state. You’ll need to complete the application and then send it to the early voting clerk in your county. You can also fax the documents or send a scanned copy via email to the early voting clerk. However, you still must mail the original printed copy to the early voting clerk to be received no later than four days after emailing or faxing the copy.

The final day to submit an application to vote by mail is Tuesday, April 25.

Your vote by mail will be counted as long as it’s postmarked by 7 p.m. May 6 and received by the county by 5 p.m. May 8.

Do I need an ID to vote by mail?

Sort of. You’ll need to provide either a driver’s license number, a state-issued ID number or an election identification certificate number. If you don’t have one of these, you may also provide the last four digits of your Social Security number. And if you don’t have any of these forms of ID, you can check that you haven’t been issued one of these forms of ID.

Can a convicted felon vote in Texas?

Convicted felons cannot register to vote unless they have fully discharged their sentence — including incarceration, parole and supervision — or they have completed court-ordered probation. Those who have been pardoned also may vote.

What is prohibited at Texas polling places?

Texas law prohibits political activity within 100-foot distance markers outside a polling place. Cellphones, wireless devices, cameras, recorders, laptops and cameras are not allowed to be used within the 100-foot limit. (Signs typically instruct voters to simply turn off their phones while in a polling place.)

Voters may bring written materials to the voting booth to help with their selections.

Even if a polling place is inside of a building where concealed carry normally would be permitted, guns are not allowed within 100 feet of a polling location.

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What should I do if I think my rights are being infringed upon?

Report concerns of this nature to a person working at the poll or to an election judge in your precinct. Complaints can also be filed with county election officials or the secretary of state’s office.

What should I do if I think I’m witnessing voter fraud?

Alert the secretary of state’s office or local law enforcement officials to the potential fraud. The secretary of state’s office is not an enforcement or investigative agency, but officials there can forward complaints to the appropriate agency.

Where do I go if I still need help?

If you need help registering to vote, you can find your county’s voter registration contact information here.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Early voting in Texas: Here's everything you need to know to vote