DALLAS — The Republican and Democratic National Conventions are over and the stage is set for the November 5 election. There's plenty on the ballot locally in North Texas too.
But there’s a lot to know about voter registration and deadlines before you cast your ballot.
Here’s what you need to know in Texas about voter registration and deadlines for registration, applying for a ballot by mail, and more.
Who is eligible to vote?
In Texas, you’re eligible to vote if:
- You’re a U.S. citizen;
- You’re a resident of the county where you submit the application;
- You’re at least 17 years and 10 months old on the date your voter registration was submitted and 18 on election day;
- You’re not a convicted felon (you may be eligible to vote if you have completed your sentence, probation, and parole); and
- You have not been declared by a court exercising probate jurisdiction to be either totally mentally incapacitated or partially mentally incapacitated without the right to vote.
How to register to vote
Complete a voter registration application and return it to your county election office at least 30 days before the election. Here’s how you can do it:
- You can complete your application using the Texas Secretary of State online voter registration application and print, sign and mail it to your county election office
- Request a printed application or;
- Contacting your local voter registrar to complete the registration process
Deadline to register to vote
The voter registration deadline for the Nov. 5 election is Oct. 7.
Who’s eligible to vote by mail?
In Texas you’re eligible to vote by mail if:
- 65 years or older on Election Day
- Sick or disabled
- Expecting to give birth within three weeks before or after Election Day
- Absent from the county of registration during the early voting period and on election day
- Civilly committed under Chapter 841 of the Texas Health and Safety Code; or
- Confined in jail, but otherwise eligible.
How to apply for a ballot by mail
You can get a formal application for a ballot by mail by:
- Downloading an application for a ballot by mail from the Texas Secretary of State’s website;
- visiting the Texas Secretary of State’s office; or
- The early voting clerk in your county.
To vote by mail, you must provide one of the following numbers on your application:
- 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
- If you have not been issued one of the numbers above, the last four digits of your Social Security Number
Voters can send applications to vote by mail to the early voting clerk by:
- In-person delivery
- Regular mail
- Common or contract carrier or
- Fax
Deadline to send in your application to vote by mail
The deadline to send in your application to vote by mail in the Nov. 5 election is Oct. 25.
Deadline to send in your mail-in ballot
Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. if the carrier envelope is not postmarked or Nov. 6 if the carrier envelope is postmarked by 7 p.m. at the election location on election day (unless overseas or military voter deadlines apply.
When is early voting for the Nov. 5 election?
Early voting begins Oct. 21 and runs until Nov. 1.