Here\u2019s what you need to know about what\u2019s on the ballot and the voting process. <\/p>\n
What\u2019s on the ballot?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s a quick glance at the federal, state and local elected offices that are up for election this year, according to the Texas Secretary of State<\/a>.<\/p>\n Federal<\/p>\n 1 U.S. Senator <\/p>\n All 38 U.S. representatives since new congressional maps were redrawn in 2025<\/p>\n State (statewide races)<\/p>\n Texas Governor<\/p>\n Lieutenant Governor<\/p>\n Attorney General<\/p>\n Comptroller of Public Accounts<\/p>\n Commissioner of General Land Office<\/p>\n Commissioner of Agriculture<\/p>\n One Railroad Commissioner <\/p>\n Four members of the Texas Supreme Court<\/p>\n Three members of the Court of Criminal Appeals<\/p>\n Three members of the 15th Court of Appeals<\/p>\n State (regional district-based races)<\/p>\n Eight of the State Board of Education\u2019s 15 seats<\/p>\n Sixteen of the State Senate\u2019s 31 seats\u00a0<\/p>\n All 150 State Representatives<\/p>\n Several chief justices of courts of appeals<\/p>\n Various regional courts of appeals judges<\/p>\n Austin<\/p>\n Austin City Council Districts 1, 3, 5, 8 and 9<\/p>\n Austin ISD Board of Trustees positions 1, 4, 6, 7 and 9<\/p>\n Bond Propositions A and B<\/p>\n City Charter Propositions C through J<\/p>\n ACC Board of Trustees places 1, 2 and 3<\/p>\n Lower-level judges and local county offices will also appear on the ballot, including:<\/p>\n County courts at law<\/p>\n Justices of the peace<\/p>\n District clerks<\/p>\n County clerks<\/p>\n County treasurers<\/p>\n County surveyors<\/p>\n County judges<\/p>\n Various district judges, including on criminal and family courts.<\/p>\n You can use our ballot lookup tool <\/a>to see which district-based and congressional elections you can vote in based on your address. Stay tuned for our guides on candidates running for statewide offices<\/p>\n You can also use this too<\/a>l to see if your congressional district changed in 2025. (Don\u2019t worry: We won\u2019t sell your information if you provide your email, which is optional.)<\/p>\n Who are the candidates?<\/p>\n You can use our look-up tool to see candidates who will be on your ballot. The Democratic and Republican candidates on the ballot won the majority of votes during the March primary elections or the May primary runoffs.<\/p>\n In some elections, you may also see Libertarian and Green party candidates who were nominated at their party\u2019s conventions.\u00a0<\/p>\n Texas also allows declared write-in candidates<\/a> for state and county elected offices, which is why you may see blank write-in options for some elections. You can view declared write-in candidates through the Texas Secretary of State<\/a>.<\/p>\n During the general election, registered voters can vote for any candidate on the ballot, even if they participated in another party\u2019s primary or didn\u2019t participate in the primaries at all.<\/p>\n What dates do I need to know?<\/p>\n Oct. 5 is the last day to register to vote and to submit an address change to vote in the general election. Read more about voter registration further down<\/a> in this story.<\/p>\n Oct. 23 is the last day to apply to vote by mail. This option is limited in Texas. Read more about who qualifies to vote by mail and the process here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Early voting in person is Oct. 19-30. Read more about early voting here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Nov. 3 is Election Day \u2014 the last day to vote in person and to return a ballot by mail. Read more about Election Day voting here and about voting by mail here<\/a>.<\/p>\n What do I need to know about Texas\u2019 voter registration?<\/p>\n Oct. 5 is the last day to register to vote and to submit an address change for the midterm election.\u00a0<\/p>\n How do I update my voter registration with an address or name change?<\/p>\n You can report an address or name change online<\/a>. You should do this if you\u2019ve moved since the last time you voted, especially if you have moved to a different county or political district or have legally taken a different name.<\/p>\n How do I check if I\u2019m registered to vote?<\/p>\n You can check to see if you\u2019re registered and verify your information through the Texas Secretary of State\u2019s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll need to submit your name, date of birth and one of the following options to log in:\u00a0<\/p>\n Your Texas driver\u2019s license or state ID number.<\/p>\n The county you reside in and your ZIP code.<\/p>\n Your Voter Unique Identifier, which appears on your voter registration certificate.<\/p>\n Who can register to vote in Texas?<\/p>\n U.S. citizens in Texas can register to vote in the election if they are 18 or older or if they will be 18 by Election Day.<\/p>\n Citizens in the state cannot register to vote if they have been convicted of a felony and are still serving a sentence, including parole or probation, or if they have been deemed mentally incapacitated in court. Here are more specifics on eligibility<\/a>.<\/p>\n Eligible people experiencing homelessness can vote<\/a>, as long as they provide on their registration an address and description for where they are residing, such as a shelter or a street intersection. If needed, their mailing address can be different, but a P.O. Box address is usually not considered a residence address in Texas.<\/p>\n Students from other states who are studying here and have a Texas address can register to vote too.<\/p>\n How do I register to vote?<\/p>\n You must complete and submit a paper voter registration application by Oct. 5.<\/p>\n You can find this at county voter registrars\u2019 offices and some post offices, government offices and high schools. You can also print out the online application and mail it to the voter registrar in your county. Download your application here<\/a>. You can also request a postage-paid application<\/a> through the mail, but this will take some time to receive.<\/p>\n Applications must be postmarked by Oct. 5. You can request the postmark at your local post office to avoid delays<\/a>.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re worried about the registration deadline, you can complete or deliver an application in person to your county\u2019s elections administrator. Find yours either here<\/a> or by using our lookup tool here<\/a>. You can also register through organizations that have volunteer registrars<\/a> like the League of Women Voters<\/a>, who often hold voter registration events.<\/p>\n Additionally, you can register to vote through the Texas Department of Public Safety while renewing your driver\u2019s license. You may be able to register to vote online if you\u2019re also allowed to renew your license online<\/a>. This is the only form of online registration in the state.<\/p>\n After you register to vote, you will receive a voter registration certificate within 30 days. It\u2019ll contain your voter information, including your Voter Unique Identifier number, which you will need to update your information online. If the certificate has incorrect information, you\u2019ll need to note corrections and send it to your local voter registrar as soon as possible.\u00a0<\/p>\n The voter registration certificate can also be used as a secondary form of ID when you vote if you don\u2019t have one of the seven state-approved photo IDs<\/a>. More information on that here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Do you have to reregister to vote?<\/p>\n Once you register to vote, you generally remain registered, but there are various reasons why you may want to verify your registration status. For example, if you need to update your registration after a name or address change. You can make those updates online here<\/a>.<\/p>\n What does it mean if my voter registration is in \u201csuspense\u201d?<\/p>\n If a county receives a non-deliverable notice after sending a voter registration certificate or suspects an address change, a voter is placed on a \u201csuspense list\u201d and asked to confirm their address. Voters on the suspense list can still vote<\/a> if they update or confirm their address before the voter registration deadline for an election or fill out a \u201cstatement of residence\u201d when voting. They may have to vote at their previous polling location or vote on a limited ballot. If no action is taken by a suspended voter, they are removed from the voter rolls after about four years, according to the Texas Secretary of State\u2019s office.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re concerned about your voter registration status, you can verify it online here<\/a>.<\/p>\n What if I moved after the voter registration deadline?<\/p>\n You must reside in Texas by the voter registration deadline to vote in the upcoming election unless you qualify for absentee voting. You can read more about absentee and mail-in voting here<\/a>.<\/p>\n You can vote at your previous polling location if you moved within the same county or political district. Or you can vote at your new polling location on a ballot limited to the elections you would qualify to vote in at both polling locations, such as statewide races.<\/p>\n Limited ballots are available only during early voting<\/a> at your \u201cmain early voting polling place,\u201d which is usually the office<\/a> of your election administrator or county clerk. The main early voting polling place should be noted in a county\u2019s list of early voting locations.<\/p>\n What do I do if I run into issues with my voter registration?<\/p>\n If you have questions or concerns about your registration, you can find your county\u2019s voter registration contact here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Inside polling locations, there are typically \u201cresolution desks\u201d where poll workers can address registration issues.<\/p>\n You can also find more information from the Texas Secretary of State\u2019s office at votetexas.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n What do I need to know about voting by mail in Texas?<\/p>\n Oct. 23 is the last day to apply to vote by mail.<\/p>\n How do I know if I\u2019m eligible to vote by mail?<\/p>\n This option is fairly limited in Texas. You\u2019re allowed to vote by mail only if:<\/p>\n You will be 65 or older by Election Day.<\/p>\n You will not be in your county for the entire voting period, including early voting.<\/p>\n You cite a sickness or disability that prevents you from voting in person without needing personal assistance or without the likelihood of injuring your health.<\/p>\n You\u2019re expected to give birth within three weeks before or after Election Day.<\/p>\n You are confined in jail but otherwise eligible (i.e. not convicted of a felony).<\/p>\n College students can apply for absentee ballots if they are registered at a residence in Texas, such as a parent\u2019s home, but are studying out of state.\u00a0<\/p>\n If you are voting absentee, and want to see what will appear on your ballot, you can get a sample ballot from your county. In most cases, sample ballots can be found on your county\u2019s election website<\/a>.<\/p>\n When do I need to drop off or mail an application?<\/p>\n Applications must be received by the early voting clerk in your county \u2014 not postmarked \u2014 by Oct. 23. Applications can also be submitted by fax or email, but the county must receive a hard copy within four business days. They can also be dropped off in person.<\/p>\n You can download an application here<\/a> or request one be mailed to you here<\/a>.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re looking to vote by mail, give yourself as much leeway as possible. You\u2019ll need to budget for the time it will take your county to get your ballot to you in the mail after you apply.<\/p>\n What is the deadline to mail my ballot?<\/p>\n The deadline for mail-in ballots to be returned to the county is Election Day, Nov. 3. If a ballot is postmarked by 7 p.m. locally on Election Day, it\u2019ll be counted if the county receives it by 5 p.m. the next day.\u00a0 The U.S. Postal Service recommends<\/a> mailing your ballot at least one week before the deadline, if not sooner.<\/p>\n Absentee ballots can also be dropped off in person at your county elections office while polls are open on Election Day. You will need a valid form of ID, such as a driver\u2019s license or state ID.<\/p>\n Completed ballots from overseas and military voters are accepted if they\u2019re mailed by Election Day and are received by Nov. 9.\u00a0<\/p>\n Overseas voters who submitted an application for a ballot by mail<\/a>, or an ABBM, must postmark their ballot envelope by Election Day for it to be counted, according to the state\u2019s election law calendar<\/a>. (The postmark requirement does not apply to military and overseas voters who submit a Federal Post Card Application and go through a different ballot process<\/a>.)<\/p>\n What identification do I need to vote by mail?<\/p>\n Texas requires mail-in voters to provide an ID number on both their application for a ballot and the carrier envelope used to return a completed ballot. This must be one the following ID numbers:\u00a0<\/p>\n A driver\u2019s license number<\/p>\n A state ID number<\/p>\n Last four digits of their Social Security number<\/p>\n Texas election ID certificate number (issued by DPS and which is different from the number found on your voter registration certificate)<\/p>\n Voters who don\u2019t have any of these can check a box indicating they have not been issued that identification.<\/p>\n This identification rule was added by the Texas Legislature in 2021. Some voters have said they had their ballots or applications rejected<\/a> because they didn\u2019t provide an ID number or the number they provided did not match the one the state had for them.\u00a0<\/p>\n If you don\u2019t have a license number on file or are unsure which ID number you provided, the Texas Secretary of State has suggested contacting your local voter registrar to ask about how to add one of the required numbers to your voter registration record.<\/p>\n Voting advocates have suggested voters include both their driver\u2019s license or state ID number and the last four digits of their Social Security number, if they have both, to avoid issues.<\/p>\n What counts as a disability to vote by mail?<\/p>\n The Texas Election Code\u2019s definition of disability is broader than other federal definitions. A voter is eligible to vote by mail if they have a \u201csickness or physical condition\u201d that prevents them from voting in person without the likelihood of \u201cneeding personal assistance or of injuring the voter\u2019s health.\u201d<\/p>\n What kind of postage do I need to return my mail-in ballot?<\/p>\n Some counties may pay postage for you. Local elections offices should have specifics once ballots are finalized. That said, if you don\u2019t have enough postage, your ballot is not supposed to be returned to you. Instead, the Postal Service has said<\/a> it will deliver the ballot and bill your election administrator.<\/p>\n What if there\u2019s an issue with my mail-in ballot?<\/p>\n Texas allows voters to correct their mail-in ballots if the ballots are at risk of being rejected because of a technical error, including missing information or signatures. This also applies to issues with mail-in applications. County officials are responsible for alerting voters if there is a defect with their application or ballot.<\/p>\n Voters can use this online ballot tracker<\/a> to make corrections and check the status of their application to vote by mail and their ballot. The deadline to correct mail-in ballot applications is Oct. 23. The deadline to correct the envelope of a mail-in ballot is Nov. 9. Corrections may also be submitted by mail<\/a> \u2014 if election officials determine there\u2019s enough time to do so \u2014 or in-person<\/a> at a county\u2019s early voting clerk\u2019s office.<\/p>\n What do I need to know about voting in person in Texas?<\/p>\n Early voting in person runs from Oct. 19-30.\u00a0<\/p>\n Anyone registered to vote may vote early, but it must be done in person unless you qualify to vote by mail.<\/p>\n Voters can cast ballots at any polling location in the county where they are registered to vote. Check your county election office\u2019s website for early-voting locations and hours.<\/p>\n If you can\u2019t vote inside of a polling place due to injury or a disability, curbside voting may be available. Read more about what qualifies as a disability and about curbside voting options here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Election day is Nov. 3.\u00a0<\/p>\n Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time.<\/p>\n How can I find which polling places are near me?<\/p>\n By Oct. 13, county election offices should post on their websites<\/a> information on polling locations for Election Day and during the early-voting period. The Texas Secretary of State\u2019s website will also have information on polling locations closer to the start of voting. However, polling locations may change, so be sure to check your county\u2019s election website before going to vote.<\/p>\n Are polling locations the same on Election Day as they are during early voting?\u00a0<\/p>\n Not always. Check where polling locations are open on your county\u2019s elections website<\/a> before you head to cast your ballot. In some counties,Election Day voting may be restricted to locations in your designated precinct, while others<\/a> allow voters to cast ballots at any polling place.<\/p>\n Counties should note on their elections website if voters have to vote at a specific location based on their precinct. To find your precinct, you can reference the voter registration certificate<\/a> mailed to you or use the state\u2019s voter lookup tool<\/a> if your county doesn\u2019t have a lookup tool online.<\/p>\n What form of ID do I need to bring?<\/p>\n You\u2019ll need one of seven types of valid photo ID to vote in Texas:<\/p>\n A state driver\u2019s license (issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety).<\/p>\n A Texas election identification certificate (issued by DPS).<\/p>\n A Texas personal identification card (issued by DPS).<\/p>\n A Texas license to carry a handgun (issued by DPS).<\/p>\n A U.S. military ID card with a personal photo.<\/p>\n A U.S. citizenship certificate with a personal photo.<\/p>\n A U.S. passport.<\/p>\n Check out this story<\/a> for more details.<\/p>\n What if I don\u2019t have a valid photo ID?<\/p>\n Voters can still cast ballots if they sign a form swearing that they have a \u201creasonable impediment\u201d to obtaining a proper photo ID. Those voters will also have to present one of the following types of supporting documents:\u00a0<\/p>\n A valid voter registration certificate.<\/p>\n A certified birth certificate.<\/p>\n A document confirming birth admissible in a court of law that establishes your identity (which may include a foreign birth document).<\/p>\n A copy of or an original current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other document that shows the voter\u2019s name and address. (Any government document that contains a voter\u2019s photo must be the original.)<\/p>\n If you have a valid photo ID but forgot it, you can cast a provisional ballot<\/a> but will have to visit your local voter registrar\u2019s office within six days of the election (Nov. 9) to present an acceptable ID or documentation in order for the ballot to be counted. A registered voter without a valid photo ID or any of the supporting documents can also cast a provisional ballot.<\/p>\n Are there rules at the polls?<\/p>\n Cellphones, cameras, computers and other devices that can record sound or images cannot be used within 100 feet of voting stations where ballots are marked. There are usually traffic cones or signs marking this area. Campaigning \u2014 including wearing clothing or other items that publicize candidates, political parties or measures on the ballot \u2014 is also banned beyond this point.<\/p>\n A new law<\/a> also bans the use of wireless communication devices, like cellphones, in the same room where voting is taking place. Voters are allowed to use written notes to cast their ballot at the discretion of election officers, who determine if the material counts as campaigning.<\/p>\n Firearms, including handguns, are prohibited at polling places, according to Texas law<\/a>.<\/p>\n What are my rights as a voter?<\/p>\n Voters generally have the right to cast their ballots in secret and should not be subject to intimidation<\/a>.<\/p>\n Guaranteed time to vote:<\/p>\n On Election Day, voters have the right to cast a ballot as long as they\u2019re in line by 7 p.m.<\/p>\n Texas law says<\/a> voters have the right to vote during work hours without being penalized or losing pay, but this may not apply if a worker has two hours before or after their shift to vote.<\/p>\n Voting accommodations and assistance:<\/p>\n Voters can get written instructions on how to cast a ballot or to ask a polling place officer or worker<\/a> (they cannot ask who or what to vote for).<\/p>\n Voters with disabilities or limited English proficiency can also get interpretation, assistance or other accommodations to vote.\u00a0<\/p>\n A state law passed in 2023<\/a> allows voters with disabilities or mobility problems to skip the line at their polling location and requires each polling location to have a designated parking spot for curbside voting.\u00a0<\/p>\n Addressing voting or administrative issues:<\/p>\n If a registered voter\u2019s name does not appear on the list of voters because of an administrative issue, they have the right to cast a provisional ballot<\/a>.<\/p>\n If a voter makes a mistake while marking a ballot, they have the right to use up to two additional ballots<\/a> to make corrections.\u00a0<\/p>\n At the polls, voters can talk to election officers or poll workers if they run into issues.<\/p>\n Who can I contact for help with voting concerns?<\/p>\n You can contact your county\u2019s voter registrar for questions about your voter registration. Find yours here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Contact your county\u2019s elections office or administrator for general questions about local elections. Find yours here<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Secretary of State<\/a> has a helpline at 1-800-252-VOTE (8683) where state attorneys are available to answer questions from voters and election officials.<\/p>\n A coalition of voting rights groups<\/a> runs voter protection hotlines in several languages. Disability Rights Texas also offers a helpline<\/a> for people with disabilities.<\/p>\n What if I was planning to vote in person but can no longer do so?<\/p>\n If you didn\u2019t apply to vote by mail but are unable to go to a polling place, consider requesting an emergency early voting ballot or using curbside voting.<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n Emergency ballot: These ballots can be requested if you become sick or disabled close to an election<\/a> and are unable to go to a polling place on Election Day.<\/p>\n Emergency ballots are also available for individuals who cannot vote on Election Day due to the death of a close family member<\/a>.<\/p>\n Contact your county elections<\/a> office for more details.<\/p>\n Curbside voting: You can contact your county elections office to determine if you\u2019re eligible for curbside voting, which must be made available at every polling place for voters with disabilities who are unable to enter a polling location<\/a>. A new law<\/a> requires curbside voters to fill out a form attesting that they are physically unable to enter a voting location.<\/p>\n How can I make sure my ballot is counted?<\/p>\n How do I know if my provisional ballot was counted?\u00a0<\/p>\n If you voted with a provisional ballot because of an administrative issue or photo ID problem, you should receive a notice by mail saying whether your ballot was counted in the local canvass, which is the final tally of votes. These notices must be mailed by Nov. 30, according to the state\u2019s election law calendar<\/a>.<\/p>\n What about regular ballots?<\/p>\n