Vote in Texas: Elections Hub

Our nonpartisan Elections Hub has everything you need to be ready to vote in Texas! Take your future into your own hands and protect your freedoms at the ballot box.

Important Dates for the May Elections

Last Day to Register to Vote: April 4
Last Day to Apply to Vote by Mail: April 23 (Received, not postmarked)
Early Voting: April 22 – 30
Election Day: May 4

What’s at Stake in the May 4 Election

In the May election, Texans will consider local propositions and candidates for various local offices, such as mayor, city council, school boards, utility districts, port authorities, and more.

Local elections have a direct impact on your day-to-day life, and your vote can truly make a difference. You have the power to change your community. Make a plan to get to the polls and vote for the candidates that best reflect your values!

School Board Races We’re Watching

School boards, comprised of elected members, are tasked with overseeing each individual Texas Independent School District (ISD).

Keller ISD, Place 6

Candidates:

Charles Randklev (incumbent)
Adrienne Sullivan

Keller ISD, Place 7
Mansfield ISD, Place 2
Dallas ISD, Place 9
Katy ISD, Place 6

Candidates:

Donovan Campbell
Rebecca Fox (incumbent)

Katy ISD, Place 7

Candidates:

Dawn Champagne (incumbent)
David Olson

Other Races We’re Watching

Brownsville Navigation District Board of Navigation and Canal Commissioner, Place 1
Brownsville Navigation District Board of Navigation and Canal Commissioner, Place 3
Brownsville Navigation District Board of Navigation and Canal Commissioner, Place 5

FAQs: How to Vote in Texas

I’m not sure if I’m registered. How can I register or confirm my voter registration status?

You can confirm your registration status or get instructions to register on the Texas Secretary of State’s website. If you can’t find your registration, call your county voter registrar’s office to confirm your status.

Where can I vote?

Find your polling place using the “My Voter Portal” from the state of Texas.

On Election Day, if your county participates in the Countywide Polling Place Program (CWPP) – commonly referred to as ‘Vote Centers’ – you can vote at any location in your county of residence.

If your county does not participate in the CWPP, you can only vote at the voting precinct assigned to you. Find your polling place here.

What type of ID do I need to vote?

You can use one of the following 7 forms of photo identification (can be expired up to four years):

  • Texas Driver License issued by DPS
  • Texas Election Identification Certificate
  • Texas personal identification card issued by DPS
  • Texas license to carry a handgun 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
What if my ID doesn’t match my current address?

That’s okay. As long as your name matches, your ID will be accepted. Texas does not require the address to match.

I registered to vote on campus, but I’m back home. Where can I vote?

You can still make address or name changes online until the voter registration deadline. After this deadline passes, you have to vote in the county where you are registered to vote. However, voting by mail might be an option for you. See the FAQ below on voting-by-mail eligibility and how to obtain a vote-by-mail application.

I filled out a voter registration application. Am I able to vote by mail now?

The voter registration applications and the vote-by-mail applications are completely different and separate forms. If you would like to vote by mail, you can check if you qualify and request a Vote By Mail Application. However, in order to vote by mail, you must be registered to vote. If you send a filled-out mail-in ballot, you cannot also try to vote in person.

Am I eligible to vote by mail? How do I do it?

You can vote by mail if: 

  • You will be outside of the county during Early Voting AND Election Day
  • You who are sick or have a disability
  • You are confined in jail without a felony conviction
  • You are 65 or older on Election Day
  • You are expected to give birth within three weeks before or after Election Day

If you are eligible, you can request an application to vote by mail here.

But keep this in mind: Applications to vote by mail must be in the hands of elections officials at least 11 days before the election. If you want to vote by mail, you must move quickly and submit your application as soon as possible.

I lost my voter ID card. Can I still vote?

Yes! The Voter ID card is not required if you have one of the following forms of photo identification (can be expired up to four years):

  • Texas Driver License issued by DPS
  • Texas Election Identification Certificate
  • Texas personal identification card issued by DPS
  • Texas license to carry a handgun 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
My license is expired. Can I still use it to vote?

For voters aged 18-69, ID must be current or have expired no more than 4 years before being presented for voter qualification at the polling place. If you are 70 years of age or older, you may use a form of acceptable photo identification that has expired if the identification is otherwise valid.

What changed with voting when Senate Bill 1 was enacted in 2021?

The state law passed by the 2021 Texas Legislature changed voting for Texans in the following ways:

  • Mail-in-ballot voters must now provide ID on both the application and the return carrier envelope for their completed ballot.
  • Election officials are no longer allowed to send vote-by-mail applications forms to voters who have not gone through the process of requesting one.
  • Anyone who helps someone else in filling out a ballot at the polls – due to help needed because of language barriers, physical mobility, etc. – must now sign a form disclosing their relationship to the voter. The person assisting must also recite an oath stating that they did not pressure or coerce the voter into choosing them as their assistant.
  • There is now a ban drive-through and 24-hour early voting. Both of those methods were used by elections administrators in 2020 to allow for safe voting access during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, helping more than 127,000 people exercise their right to vote safely.
Who can I call if I have a problem voting at the polls?

Contact the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and Texas Civil Rights Project election protection hotline at (866) OUR-VOTE.

What is a primary election?

Primary elections decide which candidates will represent each of the major political parties in the general elections — Republicans run against Republicans, and Democrats run against Democrats. Voters may only participate in the primary election for one party, not both.

Voter turnout for primary elections in Texas is historically low, but we have the power to change that. By voting in the primary, you can ensure the candidates that best reflect your values are on the ballot in the general election.

What’s a runoff election?

A runoff election is what happens when no candidate gets at least 50% of the votes in an election. The top two candidates will proceed to a runoff election, where Texans will cast their ballot to decide who will represent them.

Runoff elections will look different depending on where you live, from the candidates on the ballot to the dates of voting.

Any voter registered in the candidates’ area of representation can participate. Even if you didn’t vote in the general election, you can still vote in the runoff!

Register Texans to Vote!

Right now, there are thousands of Texans who qualify to vote — they just need the support to register.

Become a Volunteer Deputy Registrar (VDR) and register people to vote in Texas elections!

Election Protection Hotline

Have questions about voting? Call or text 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) to speak with a trained Election Protection volunteer.

This hotline provides voters with comprehensive information and assistance at all stages of voting — from registration, to absentee and early voting, to casting a vote at the polls, to overcoming obstacles to their participation.

Why You Should Vote

It’s important to be engaged, informed, and always vote — not just in presidential elections, but in your state and local elections, too! Local and state governments are responsible for everything from education and library services, to infrastructure and public transportation, to rent costs and affordable housing.

Local politics have the most direct effect on your daily life and your community, and your vote really does matter!

Voting isn’t always easy in Texas – but DFGU is on a mission to ensure you can vote for change.

DFGU is led in coalition by Common Cause Texas, MOVE Texas, Texas Civil Rights Project, and Texas Freedom Network. We aim to rebuild our election system starting at the local level by using community power to advocate for and implement 15 pro-voter reforms in fifteen counties across the state.