Early voting in Texas ends on Friday, October 30, giving registered voters one final opportunity to cast their ballots before the November 3 general election.
Voters can cast an early ballot at any designated early-voting location in the county where they are registered, although locations and opening hours vary. The Texas Secretary of State advises voters to check their registration and polling details before travelling.
The election will decide federal, state and county offices, including all 38 seats in the US House of Representatives, the US Senate seat currently held by John Cornyn, and a range of statewide judicial and executive positions.
Some voters may also find that their congressional district has changed following the adoption of a newly drawn map. Local ballots can include races for judges, county officials, state senators and members of the Texas House of Representatives.
Texas election dates and voting arrangements
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3. Polls will be open from 7am to 7pm, and anyone in line when voting ends must be allowed to cast a ballot. Voters should confirm whether their county uses countywide polling locations or requires them to attend an assigned polling place.
More than 4.2 million Texans had voted during the first six days of early voting, according to figures released by the Secretary of State’s office on October 26. The total represented about 22 per cent of the state’s 19 million registered voters, although early-voting figures remain unofficial while counties submit updates.
Voters who intend to cast a ballot in person must bring an acceptable form of photo identification. These include a Texas driver’s licence, Texas personal identification card, Texas Election Identification Certificate, Texas handgun licence, US passport, military identification card or US citizenship certificate bearing a photograph.
Anyone who does not possess, and cannot reasonably obtain, an approved photo ID may be able to sign a Reasonable Impediment Declaration and present supporting documentation, such as a utility bill, bank statement, government cheque, pay cheque or voter registration certificate.
For voters aged between 18 and 69, an otherwise acceptable Texas photo ID may be used if it expired no more than four years ago. Voters aged 70 or over may use an eligible photo ID regardless of how long ago it expired.
Mail ballot deadlines
Texas voters may apply to vote by mail only in certain circumstances, including being aged 65 or over, having an illness or disability, being away from their county during the voting period, expecting to give birth within three weeks of Election Day, or being confined in jail while otherwise eligible to vote.
The deadline for the county early-voting clerk to receive an application for a mail ballot was Friday, October 23. Completed ballots must generally arrive by 7pm on Election Day, although a domestic ballot postmarked by 7pm on November 3 can be received until 5pm on Wednesday, November 4.
Military and overseas voters are subject to separate deadlines. Voters who have already mailed a ballot can contact their county early-voting clerk or use the state’s ballot-tracking service to check its status.
Texas has 19 million registered voters for the November election, a 2.2 per cent increase on the November 2024 general election, according to Secretary of State Robert Howden’s office.
Voters with questions about registration, polling places, identification or election procedures can contact the Texas Secretary of State’s election hotline on 1-800-252-VOTE (8683).
