FAQ

The below Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) have been compiled with the March 5, 2024 - Primary Election in mind. We hope that you will take a moment to review these pages, as you may find the answers to your questions. We encourage you to explore our website for more detailed information on elections and voting in Texas. We hope you find this useful, and we appreciate this opportunity to serve you. Note: We have grouped questions and answers in categories and provided links to additional information when needed.

Q. I’m not sure if I’m registered; how can I confirm my voter registration status?

A.

You can confirm your registration status on this website by going to Am I Registered? where you will select one of three methods for conducting your search. You can base your search on: 1. your Voter Unique Identifier (VUID), which appears on your voter registration certificate; 2. your Texas driver's license number, if you provided it when you applied for voter registration; or 3. your first and last name. Or, you can call the voter registrar’s office in the county where you reside.

Q. I’m not registered, but want to vote in the March 5, 2024 - Primary Election; how can I be sure that I’m registered in time to vote?

A.

The deadline to register and be eligible to vote in the March 5, 2024 - Primary Election election is February 5, 2024. This can be either the postmark date or the date the application is received in the office of the voter registrar. You may, of course, register at any time before that date to ensure that your registration is effective for voting in March. You can obtain a voter registration application from your voter registrar's office, libraries, most post offices, and high schools. You can also fill out a voter registration application online. or request a postage-paid application be mailed to you. Note: If you fill out a voter registration application online using the above link, you must print the completed application and send it to your county voter registrar’s office.

Q. If I send my registration by the deadline, what happens next?

A.

Your voter registration becomes effective 30 days after it is submitted (and accepted*) by the county voter registrar. The county office will then put your name on the voter registration list, generate your voter certificate, and mail it to you. Once received, be sure to read the information on the back of the certificate, sign by the X on the "front" of the card (the yellow area) and keep your voter card in a safe place.

*If your original application is missing required information, you will receive a notice in the mail and have a deadline to respond to the notice.

Q. I am registered to vote, but I moved this past year. Is there anything I need to do to make sure that I won’t have a problem voting in March?

A.

If you moved to a new location, you must file the new address information in writing with your voter registrar OR you may submit the change online. The last day to make a change of address that will be effective for the March 5, 2024 Election is February 5, 2024. If you missed this deadline, you may return to your old precinct to vote, if you still live in the political subdivision holding the election.

LIMITED BALLOT OPTION: If you have moved to a new county and have not re-registered in the new county by the February 5, 2024 deadline, you may be eligible to vote a limited ballot in your new county. A limited ballot means that you would be allowed to vote on any candidates and measures in common between your former and new county. This procedure is only available during the early voting period at the main early voting polling place; you may NOT vote a limited ballot on election day. You must be a current registered voter in your former county in order to qualify OR you must have been registered in your old county at the time you submitted a voter registration application in your new county, if you have done so. For full information on this procedure (including the by-mail option, if qualified to vote by mail), visit the Early Voting page. If you feel you qualify to vote a limited ballot, we recommend that you contact the office of the Early Voting Clerk in your new county.

Q. I don’t remember seeing my certificate lately. Is that a problem? Don’t I just stay registered?

A.

New certificates are mailed out every two years to the most recent address you gave to the voter registrar. If you did not receive a new blue and white certificate in 2022, it could mean that you have moved without updating, or there is some other problem with your registration. If the certificate was mailed to an old address, it would have been returned to the registrar as the certificate is not forwardable mail, and you would have been placed on the "suspense list" in that county. This means you have a grace period that allows you to vote in the same county in your old precinct, but if you do not vote, your name will be removed from the rolls after two federal elections have passed since you were placed on the suspense list. If you did not receive your certificate because you moved to a new Texas county, you will need to re-register.

Q. I am reviewing this page and nothing makes sense to me. These are not the rules I have heard. I’m in a state other than Texas-does that matter?

A.

If you are visiting our website from another state, please remember that each state has slightly different rules. These rules describe Texas state law and are intended for voters who consider their permanent home to be in Texas and want to vote a Texas ballot. If you arrived at this page through a search engine and you need another state's election law, check the National Association of Secretaries of State page for other state websites.

Q. What if a voter does not possess any of the acceptable forms of photo ID? Are there any exceptions?

A.

If a voter does not possess an acceptable form of photo ID, and cannot reasonably obtain one, the voter may still cast a regular ballot by presenting a supporting form of ID and executing a Reasonable Impediment Declaration, noting the voter’s reasonable impediment to obtaining an acceptable form of photo identification, stating that the information contained in the declaration is true, that the voter is the same individual personally appearing at the polling place to sign the declaration, and that the voter faces a reasonable impediment to procuring an acceptable form of photo identification. If a voter has continued access to their acceptable form of photo ID, but, for example, forgets to bring their acceptable form of photo ID to the polling place and/or left it, for example, at home or in their car, the voter still possesses the acceptable photo ID and must use it to vote.

Here is a list of supporting forms of ID:

  • copy or original of a government document that shows the voter’s name and an address, including the voter’s voter registration certificate;
  • copy of or original current utility bill;
  • copy of or original bank statement;
  • copy of or original government check;
  • copy of or original paycheck; or
  • copy of or original of (a) a certified domestic (from a U.S. state or territory) birth certificate or (b) a document confirming birth admissible in a court of law which establishes the voter’s identity (which may include a foreign birth document).

Voters with a disability may apply with the county voter registrar for a permanent exemption to presenting an acceptable photo identification or following the Reasonable Impediment Declaration procedure in the county. The application must contain written documentation from either the U.S. Social Security Administration evidencing the applicant’s disability, or from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs evidencing a disability rating of at least 50 percent. The applicant must also state that he/she does not have a form of identification prescribed by Section 63.0101 of the Texas Election Code. Those who obtain a disability exemption will be allowed to vote upon display of their voter registration certificate reflecting the exemption, and will not need to execute a Reasonable Impediment Declaration. Please contact your county voter registrar for more details.

Voters who have a consistent religious objection to being photographed or who do not present an acceptable form of photo identification listed above or follow the Reasonable Impediment Declaration procedure because of certain natural disasters as declared by the President of the United States or the Texas Governor, may vote a provisional ballot, appear at the voter registrar’s office within six (6) calendar days after election day, and sign an affidavit swearing to the religious objection or natural disaster, in order for the voter’s ballot to be counted. Please contact your county voter registrar for more details.

If a voter (a) does not possess one of the seven acceptable forms of photo identification, and a voter can reasonably obtain one of these forms of identification or (b) possesses, but did not bring to the polling place, one of the seven forms of acceptable photo identification listed above, or (c) does not possess one of the seven forms of acceptable photo identification, could otherwise not obtain one due to a reasonable impediment, but did not bring a supporting form of identification to the polling place, the voter may cast a provisional ballot at the polls. However, in order to have the provisional ballot counted, the voter will be required to visit the voter registrar’s office within six calendar days of the date of the election to either present one of the acceptable forms of photo ID OR submit one of the temporary affidavits (e.g., religious objection or natural disaster) in the presence of the county voter registrar OR submit the required paperwork and sign the required statement to qualify for a permanent disability exemption in the presence of the county voter registrar, in order for the provisional ballot to count.

Alternatively, a voter who possesses an acceptable form of photo ID but does not have it at the polling place, or a voter who does not possess an acceptable form of photo ID, and is reasonably able to obtain one, may choose to leave the polling place and return before the close of the polls on election day with an acceptable form of photo ID to vote a regular ballot at that time. In addition, a voter who does not possess, would otherwise not be able to reasonably obtain an acceptable form of photo ID, but did not bring a supporting form of ID to the polling place, may choose to leave the polling place and return before the close of the polls on election day with said supporting form of ID to fill out the Reasonable Impediment Declaration and, if they otherwise qualify, vote a regular ballot at that time.

Q. What does “substantially similar” mean?

A.

A voter’s name on the identification provided (acceptable form of photo ID, or supporting form of ID, if applicable) is considered substantially similar if one or more of the following circumstances applies:

  1. The name on the ID is slightly different from one or more of the name fields on the official list of registered voters.
  2. The name on the voter’s ID or on the list of registered voters is a customary variation of the voter’s formal name. For example, Bill for William, or Beto for Alberto.
  3. The voter’s name contains an initial, middle name, or former name but it is either not on the official list of registered voters or on the voter’s ID or is different on those documents.
  4. A first name, middle name, former name or initial of the voter’s name occupies a different field on the presented ID document than it does on the list of registered voters.

In considering whether a name is substantially similar, election officials will also look at whether information on the presented ID matches elements of the voter’s information on the official list of registered voters such as the voter’s residence address or date of birth.

Q. How can I be sure that I’m still on the voter rolls in the county where I reside?

A.

You can check the status of your voter registration, where you will select one of three methods for conducting your search. You can base your search on: 1. your Voter Unique Identifier (VUID), which appears on your voter registration certificate; 2. your Texas driver's license number, if you provided it when you applied for voter registration; or 3. your first and last name. Or, you can call the voter registrar’s office in the county where you reside.

Q. My registration status says Suspense; what does this mean?

A.

Suspense means that the registrar is not certain of your residential address. If the registrar has reason to believe that a voter's current residence is different from that indicated on the registration records, then the registrar shall deliver to the voter a written confirmation notice requesting confirmation of the voter's current residence. When a Notice of Address Confirmation is sent, the voter automatically is put on suspense. As a common practice, a Notice of Address Confirmation is sent (and an individual is placed on suspense) when:

  1. The voter’s registration certificate has been returned as non-deliverable;
  2. A Jury Summons is returned as non-deliverable; or
  3. Any mailing that was sent to the voter was returned as non-deliverable.
  4. The voter registrar has received information indicating the voter no longer resides at the address on the voter’s record.

Q. Who is eligible to vote early? What are the dates for voting early in person?

A.

Any registered voter may vote early by personal appearance (in person). Early voting by personal appearance for the March 5, 2024 Election begins on February 20, 2024 and ends on March 1, 2024. You may vote at any early voting location in your county of registration.

Q. Will I still be allowed to vote if my status is listed as Suspense?

A.

Yes. A voter whose status is on suspense is eligible to vote in an election provided that the voter completes a Statement of Residence either when voting by mail or at the polls prior to voting (within the same county as the voter’s current registration) or (if the voter has moved to a new county) completes a Limited Ballot application during Early Voting at the main early voting polling place. A voter on Suspense who has moved within the same county would be allowed to vote on Election Day by returning to the precinct in which the voter previously resided and completing a Statement of Residence at that time. A voter may also complete a Voter Registration Application to update his/her address prior the Registration Cutoff deadline for any election and send the newly updated application to the Voter Registrar in the county in which the voter resides.

Q. Where do I go to vote?

A.

You will be able to find early voting locations by using our search site Am I Registered?, which will be populated with voting sites a few days before early voting begins. Or, you may want to contact the Early Voting Clerk for State and County Elections in your county. Also, many newspapers publish early voting and election day polling locations, so you might be able to find the information there.

Q. Can anybody vote early by mail?

A.

Only specific reasons entitle a registered voter to vote early by mail (no longer called absentee voting). You may request a ballot by mail if you:

  1. will be away from your county on Election Day and during the hours that early voting is conducted;
  2. are sick or disabled; (as defined in Texas Election Code 82.002(a))
  3. Expected to give birth within three weeks before or after Election Day;
  4. are 65 years of age or older on Election Day; or
  5. are confined in jail or Involuntary Civil Commitment

Q. I fall under one of the 4 reasons above. What do I do now? Are there deadlines connected with this procedure?

A.

First, request an Application for Ballot by Mail (ABBM) from the Early Voting Clerk in the political subdivision conducting your election, or from our office. You may also print an ABBM directly from our website (PDF), (Spanish version (PDF). Once received, read the instructions carefully, complete the ABBM form and return it to the Early Voting Clerk.

For the March 5, 2024 Primary Election date, the last day for the early voting clerk to receive applications for a ballot to be voted by mail is February 23, 2024, in order for you to receive a ballot by mail. All applications to vote by mail must be received by the early voting clerk before the close of regular business or 12 noon, whichever is later. Please note that different deadlines apply to the last day to receive ballots sent by the following: (1) Non-military and military voters who mailed ballots domestically and submitted an ABBM; (2) Non-military and military voters who mailed ballots from overseas and who submitted an ABBM; (3) Non-military voters who mailed ballots from overseas and who submitted a Federal Postcard Application (“FPCA”); and (4) Military voters who mailed ballots domestically or from overseas and who submitted a FPCA.

  • The deadline to receive ballots mailed within the United States from non-military and military voters who submitted an Application for Ballot by Mail (“ABBM”) is 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 6, 2024. The carrier envelope must have a postmark showing it was in the mail by 7:00p.m. on March 5, 2024
  • The deadline to receive ballots mailed from non-military and military voters who mailed ballots from overseas and who submitted an Application for Ballot by Mail (“ABBM”) is Monday, March 11, 2024. The carrier envelope must have a postmark showing it was in the mail by 7:00p.m. on March 5, 2024
  • The deadline to receive ballots mailed from non-military voters who mailed ballots from overseas and who submitted a Federal Post Card Application (“FPCA”) is Monday, March 11, 2024. The carrier envelope must have a postmark showing it was in the mail by 7:00 p.m. on March 5, 2024
  • The deadline to receive ballots mailed from military voters who mailed ballots domestically or from overseas and who submitted a Federal Post Card Application (“FPCA”) is Monday, March 11, 2024. The carrier envelope does not need
  • Learn more about the ABBM process and to request an ABBM from our office (or print one directly from the web)

Q. It’s election day, March 5, 2024, and I’m registered and ready to vote and have what I need to bring to the polls. Where do I go? What are the hours for voting on election day?

A.

You will be able to find election day voting locations by using our search site Am I Registered?, which will be populated with voting sites a few days before election day. Or, you may want to contact the Election Official for State and County Elections in your county. Also, many newspapers publish election day polling locations. The hours of voting on election day are 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Q. Does a voter have to vote in the main election in order to vote in a runoff-election?

A.

No. Section 11.001 of the Texas Election Code prescribes the specific qualifications necessary in order to vote in a Texas election. There is no requirement to have previously voted in the main election in order to participate in the subsequent run-off election.

Q. When do the identification procedures go into effect?

A.
The identification procedures are effective immediately.

Q. Do I need to bring my voter certificate/card? Will I be able to vote without it?

A.

A. While you do not need to bring your voter registration certificate with you to vote, we highly recommend that you have it with you at the polling place. In some situations, having your voter registration certificate will allow you to vote a regular ballot instead of a provisional ballot. For example, if you do not possess one of the seven (7) acceptable forms of photo identification, and you cannot reasonably obtain one, you can use your valid voter registration certificate as a form of supporting identification when you execute your Reasonable Impediment Declaration, and vote a regular ballot. As another example, if your name does not appear on the official list of registered voters in the precinct, you may be able to cast a regular ballot by presenting your valid voter registration certificate along with an acceptable form of photo identification. In addition, for example, if you do not possess one of the seven (7) acceptable forms of identification, and you cannot reasonably obtain one, and your name is not on the official list of registered voters in the precinct, you may be able to cast a regular ballot by presenting your valid voter registration certificate and executing a Reasonable Impediment Declaration.

Please note that you may contact your county voter registrar’s office to obtain a replacement registration certificate.

Q. What kind of identification is required to qualify to vote in person?

A.

When a voter arrives at a polling location, the voter will be asked to present one of the seven (7) acceptable forms of photo ID (listed below). If a voter does not possess an acceptable form of photo identification and cannot reasonably obtain one, the voter may present a supporting form of ID and execute a Reasonable Impediment Declaration, noting the voter’s reasonable impediment to obtaining an acceptable form of photo identification, stating that the information contained in the declaration is true, that the voter is the same individual personally appearing at the polling place to sign the declaration, and that the voter faces a reasonable impediment to procuring an acceptable form of photo identification. If a voter has continued access to their acceptable form of photo ID, but, for example, forgets to bring their acceptable form of approved photo ID to the polling place and/or left it, for example, at home or in their car, the voter still possesses the acceptable photo ID and must use it to vote.

Here is a list of the acceptable forms of photo ID:

  • Texas Driver License issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
  • Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS
  • Texas Personal Identification Card issued by DPS
  • Texas Handgun License issued by DPS
  • United States Military Identification Card containing the person’s photograph
  • United States Citizenship Certificate containing the person’s photograph
  • United States Passport (book or card)

With the exception of the U.S. Citizenship Certificate, which does not expire, for voters aged 18-69, the acceptable form of photo identification may be expired no more than four years before being presented for voter qualification at the polling place. For voters aged 70 or older, the acceptable form of photo identification may be expired for any length of time if the identification is otherwise valid.

Here is a list of the supporting forms of ID that can be presented if the voter does not possess an acceptable form of photo identification, and cannot reasonably obtain one:

  • copy or original of a government document that shows the voter’s name and an address, including the voter’s voter registration certificate;
  • copy of or original current utility bill;
  • copy of or original bank statement;
  • copy of or original government check;
  • copy of or original paycheck; or
  • copy of or original of (a) a certified domestic (from a U.S. state or territory) birth certificate or (b) a document confirming birth admissible in a court of law which establishes the voter’s identity (which may include a foreign birth document).

Q. My acceptable form of photo ID is expired. Will it still work?

A.

With the exception of the U.S. Citizenship Certificate, which does not expire, for voters aged 18-69, the acceptable form of photo identification may be expired no more than four years before being presented for voter qualification at the polling place. For voters aged 70 or older, the acceptable form of photo identification may be expired for any length of time if the identification is otherwise valid.

Q. What if I forget to bring my photo identification with me when I vote in person? Will I be turned away?

A.

If a voter has continued access to their acceptable form of photo ID, but, for example, forgets to bring their acceptable form of approved photo ID to the polling place and/or left it, for example, at home or in their car, the voter still possesses the acceptable photo ID and must use it to vote. Accordingly, if you possess, but did not bring to the polling place, one of the seven (7) acceptable forms of photo identification with you when you vote in person, you may cast a “provisional ballot” at the polling location instead of a regular ballot, or you may return to the polling place before the polls close on Election Day with your acceptable form of photo identification and vote a regular ballot at that time. In order to have the provisional ballot counted in the election, you will have to visit the county voter registrar’s office by the sixth calendar day after Election Day. At the county voter registrar’s office, you will have to show one of the seven (7) acceptable forms of photo identification listed above, or, if you qualify, submit a natural disaster temporary affidavit referenced above. If you present a proper form of photo identification or submit the natural disaster temporary affidavit, the provisional ballot will be counted.

Q. My name on my identification (acceptable form of photo ID, or supporting form of ID, if applicable) does not exactly match my name on my voter registration card. Can I still vote?

A.

Election officials will review the ID (acceptable form of photo ID, or supporting form of ID, if applicable) and if a name is “substantially similar” to the name on their list of registered voters, you will still be able to vote, but you will also have to submit an affidavit stating that you are the same person on the list of registered voters.

Q. Is there any change in the process for voting by mail?

A.

Yes – To vote by mail, you must now provide ONE of the following numbers on your Application for Ballot by Mail (ABBM) (PDF) as well as your carrier envelope (PDF): (1) Texas Driver’s License, Texas Personal Identification Number or Election Identification Certificate Number issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (NOT your voter registration VUID number); OR (2) If you have not been issued one of the numbers above, the last 4 digits of your Social Security Number. If you have not been issued a Texas Driver’s License, Texas Personal Identification Number or Texas Election Identification Certificate Number or a Social Security Number, you must indicate so by checking the appropriate box on the ABBM.

Q. Does the address on my ID (acceptable form of photo ID, or supporting form of ID, if applicable) have to match my address on the official list of registered voters at the time of voting in order for it to be acceptable as ID?

A.

No. There is no address matching requirement.

Q. How can I obtain a DPS Election Identification Certificate?

A.

Election Identification Certificates are available from all DPS driver license offices during regular business hours. Information regarding how to obtain an election identification certificate can be found on the DPS website. You may also contact DPS by telephone at (512) 424-2600 for more information.

Q. What happens if (1) I refuse to show my acceptable form of photo identification, or, (2) if I do not possess an acceptable form of photo identification and cannot obtain one due to a reasonable impediment, I refuse to show one of the forms of supporting identification?

A.

Voters who refuse to show proof of identity will be allowed to vote by provisional ballot. However, please be advised that a refusal to show ID is not a valid ground for casting a provisional ballot, and it is likely that the voter’s ballot will be rejected by the ballot board.

Q. Can anyone vote early, or only those people who are going to be out of town on Election Day? What are the dates for voting early in person?

A.

Any registered voter may vote early in person. To vote early by mail, you must first complete an Application for Ballot by Mail (PDF). For complete details, refer to our section "Early Voting."

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Provisional Voting

Provisional voting is designed to allow a voter whose name does not appear on the list of registered voters due to an administrative error to vote. The provisional voting process involves an affidavit that (1) the voter must complete stating the reasons he or she is qualified to vote; and (2) is used if the voter’s registration cannot be verified by the polling place election officials OR if a voter (a) does not possess one of the acceptable forms of photo identification listed above, and a voter can reasonably obtain one of these forms of identification or (b) possesses, but did not bring to the polling place, one of the seven forms of acceptable photo identification listed above, or (c) does not possess one of the seven forms of acceptable photo identification, could otherwise not reasonably obtain one, but did not bring a supporting form of identification to the polling place.

The provisional voting process requires the voter to visit the voter registrar’s office within six (6) calendar days of the date of the election to either present one of the above seven (7) acceptable forms of photo ID OR if the voter does not possess, and cannot reasonably obtain an acceptable form of photo identification, execute a Reasonable Impediment Declaration and present one of the acceptable forms of supporting ID, OR, if applicable, submit one of the temporary affidavits (e.g., religious objection or natural disaster) OR, if applicable, qualify for a permanent disability exemption, in order for the provisional ballot to count.

The voter-marked provisional ballots are kept separately from the regular ballots, and the voter’s records will be reviewed by the provisional voting ballot board (the early voting ballot board), to determine if the ballot is to be counted or rejected. If applicable, the voter registrar will conduct whatever research is necessary to determine whether the voter is or should have been registered in the precinct in which the voter cast the provisional ballot and will pass this information on to the ballot board to assist it in making the decision of whether the provisional ballot must be counted. Provisional voters will receive a notice in the mail by the 10th day after the local canvass advising them if their provisional ballots were counted, and if they were not counted, the reason why.

Military & Overseas Voters

Please note that registering with a federal post card application (typically used by the military and overseas voters) is now treated as a request for permanent registration. There are also special provisions for military and overseas voters that are available on our website. However, military and overseas voters are welcome to use the regular registration and early voting by mail process available to all voters away from their home county on Election Day.

Voters with Special Needs

Rather than providing sample questions & answers, we are directing you to special needs information on our website to ensure that you are fully informed on the services available to you.

Student Voters

Student voters often seek advice regarding residency issues for voter registration purposes. Information regarding student residency issues is available on this website.

Convicted Felons and Voting

In Texas, a convicted felon regains the right to vote after completing his or her sentence. Therefore, once you have completed the punishment phase (including any term of incarceration, parole, or supervision, or completed a period of probation ordered by the court), you would be eligible to register and vote in the state of Texas.

Political Parties

For information on registered political parties in Texas, please contact those organizations directly:

Additional Information

We have information located in various sections of our website – “Candidates” and “Conducting Your Elections” (for election officers) just to name a few. We have moved voter specific information to our website, votetexas.gov. You will notice that some materials are repeated in different places–our hope is to gear each section to the audience for easier bookmarking and future use.

Thank you. Should you need additional information, please e-mail or call us at 1-800-252-VOTE(8683).