How To Vote in Texas

2020 TEXAS VOTING: DO’S and DON’TS

Here are some basic do’s and don’ts about Texas voting to guide your decisions about how you will vote:

VOTER REGISTRATION

MAIL-IN VOTING QUALIFICATIONS

  • There are ONLY 4 qualifying reasons for a Mail-In Ballot in Texas: 1) Age: 65+; 2) Disability; 3) Out of County; 4) Jail.
  • The Texas Supreme Court has ruled that COVID fear is not a valid reason for a mail-in ballot .

TEXAS VOTE BY MAIL PROCESS:

  • In order to vote by mail, you must first apply for a ballot. (Click here for how to apply for a mail-in ballot.)
  • You can apply for a mail-in ballot NOW.
  • If you are 65 or over, the mail-in application will be mailed to you automatically. The deadline to request a ballot is October 23, 2020.
  • Fill out your ballot carefully and completely or it could be rejected.
  • You can return the ballot by mail at a post office or mailbox OR
  • You can deliver it to county administrator’s office in person with approved voter ID.
  • The Dallas County Elections Department is at 1520 Roundtable Drive, Dallas, TX. 75247. They will have a number to call to arrange a curbside drop-off, but the number is not available yet.
  • Click here to find your elections office if you do not reside in Dallas County.
  • You can call your elections office and check to make sure your ballot has been received. (Click here to find their phone number.)
  • Fed Ex and UPS have both stated that they are neither set up nor authorized to return mail-in ballots.
  • Voting ‘drop boxes’ are not allowed in Texas.
  • You cannot drop your mail-in ballot off at your polling place. However, you can surrender your mail-in ballot at your polling place and then vote in person.
  • If you applied for a mail-in ballot and never received it, you can cast a provisional vote at your polling place.
  • Mail-in ballots must be received by Election Day OR be postmarked by 7 pm on Election Day and delivered by 5 pm the following day.
  • Mail-in ballots will be counted beginning on Election Day in jurisdictions with 100,000 or fewer voters; counting can begin at the close of early in-person voting in larger jurisdictions.

IN-PERSON EARLY VOTING

  • Worried about mail-in ballots being delivered at all? Or counted at all? Or counted ‘too late? Consider voting early in person.
  • Early voting begins THREE weeks before Election Day on 10/13/2020.
  • You can vote at ANY early voting location in your county.
  • You can find your county’s early voting locations here beginning on 10/11/2020.
  • Worried about COVID precautions? The Director of Texas Elections has issued these COVID guidelines.
  • Consider going to a non-central early voting location in ‘off-hours’ to limit your COVID exposure.

VOTE EARLY, IN PERSON IF YOU CAN!
IF YOU CAN’T, REQUEST YOUR MAIL-IN BALLOT RIGHT NOW, RETURN IT IMMEDIATELY and VERIFY IT ARRIVED!

MAKE SURE EVERYONE YOU KNOW DOES THE SAME!!!!

ELECTION DAY VOTING: 11/3/20

IF YOUR ONLY OPTION IS VOTING ON ELECTION DAY – BE PREPARED! GRAB YOUR MASK and YOUR MOST COMFORTABLE SHOES – TAKE A FOLDING CHAIR AND PLENTY OF FOOD SO YOU CAN WAIT IN LINE FOR AS LONG AS IT TAKES! 

 KNOW YOUR RIGHTS AS A TEXAS VOTER:

Click here to find the full list of your voting rights.

We also recommend you go to the following websites for more information:
Texas Secretary of State
VoteTexas.gov
League of Women Voters of Texas