Texas Early Voting Information

Voting requirements in Texas

To vote -- early or on Election Day -- in the state of Texas, you must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old and registered to vote. You also must have been a Texas resident for at least 30 days. You must not have been declared mentally incompetent or be a convicted felon who has not served out their sentence, including probation or parole.

Locations for early voting in person are placed throughout political subdivisions--generally at county courthouses. Oftentimes, voting early in person is convenient enough that you can drive through as long as you call the voting clerk and let them know you can't come in to cast your vote. Known as "curbside voting," this process is available to many elderly or infirm voters and continues through Election Day.

Many Texans vote early by mail. They include those who will be out of their counties on Election Day, are sick or disabled, are 65 or older on Election Day, or are confined in jail but still eligible to vote. To vote by mail, a request for an application must be sent to the early voting clerk on or after the 60th day prior to Election Day and before 5 p.m. on the seventh day before Election Day. Applications may be sent by regular mail, a courier or by fax.

According to the Texas Secretary of State's office, 60 days before Election Day is the first day to submit an early voting by mail application; 17 days before Election Day or 12 days for May elections is when early voting in person begins. Seven days prior to Election Day is the last day to submit an application for ballot by mail; early voting in person ends four days before Election Day; and on Election Day, marked early ballots by mail must be returned by 7 p.m., unless they are mailed from outside the United States.

Apply for a ballot by mail by calling the office holding your election. You also can call the office of the Texas secretary of state. According to the secretary of state's office, applications must be addressed to the early voting clerk.