Want to vote in the November elections? Here's what you need to know
The stage is set for the Nov. 5 election and there's plenty on the ballot locally and nationally. Here's what you need to know to vote.
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 be aware of before you cast your ballot.
Of course, the biggest race on the ballot is the race for president. Former President Donald Trump is attempting to regain the office as Vice President Kamala Harris is attempting to take it for the first time.
How large of a role will Texas play in this presidential election? Well, given that both candidates have been in Texas a couple weeks before the election itself, Trump in Austin and Harris in Houston, Texas may be of great importance in this election. Both presidential candidates being in Texas this close to the November election hasn't been seen since 1996.
And there's the Senate race between incumbent Republican Sen. Ted Cruz and U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas. Cruz was last reelected in 2018 in a surprisingly close race against Democratic challenger Beto O'Rourke. And if polls are anything to go by, this may be another close race.
The two candidates took part in a debate at WFAA's studio weeks ago, the only debate prior to the race, which saw both Cruz and Allred spirited and fiery arguing over issues like abortion, immigration and the economy.
Here’s what you need to know in Texas about what's on the ballot, where to vote, applying for a ballot by mail, and more.
Statewide Full election list
These are the two biggest races on the ballot, the race for president between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris and the Senate race between Ted Cruz and Colin Allred. Read up about these races and others here.
You can watch the debate between Cruz and Allred here:
President and Vice President
Donald Trump and JD Vance (R)
Kamala Harris and Tim Walz (D)
Chase Oliver and Mike Ter Maa (L)
Jill Stein and Rudolph Ware (G)
U.S. Senator
Ted Cruz (R)
Colin Allred (D)
Ted Brown (L)
U.S. Congress Full election list
The House of Representatives is up for grabs this election. All 435 seats will be on the ballot, which means the lower chamber could look completely different after November. To find out who your representative is, click here.
District 5 Representative
Lance Gooden (R)
Ruth "Truth" Torres (D)
District 6 Representative
Jake Ellzey (R)
John Love III (D)
District 24 Representative
Beth Van Duyne (R)
Sam Eppler (D)
District 30 Representative
Jasmine Crockett (D)
Jrmar "JJ" Jefferson (L)
District 32 Representative
Darrell Day (R)
Julie Johnson (D)
Kevin A. Hale (L)
District 33 Representative
Patrick David Gillespie (R)
Marc Veasey (D)
Statewide Full election list
A number of statewide offices are also on the ballot this November. This ranges from railroad commissioner, who control oil and gas permits in the state, to a multitude of seats on the Texas Supreme Court, as well as seats on the State Board of Education.
Railroad commissioner
Christi Craddick (R)
Katherine Culbert (D)
Hawk Dunlap (L)
Eddie Espinoza (G)
Texas Supreme Court Place 2
Jimmy Blacklock (R)
DaSean Jones (D)
Texas Supreme Court Place 4
John Devine (R)
Christine Vinh Weems (D)
Texas Supreme Court Place 6
Jane Bland (R)
Bonnie Lee Goldstein (D)
J. David Roberson (L)
Court of Criminal Appeals Presiding Judge
David J. Schenck (R)
Holly Taylor (D)
Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Place 7
Gina Parker (R)
Nancy Mulder (D)
Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Place 8
Lee Finley (R)
Chika Anyiam (D)
State Board of Education District 11
Brandon Hall (R)
Rayna Glasser (D)
Hunter Crow (G)
State Board of Education District 12
Pam Little (R)
George King (D)
State legislature Full election list
Am I registered to vote?
The deadline to register to vote has passed, but you can check your registration status here.
What’s on the ballot?
Where do I vote?
Here are links to county election offices, which have lists of polling locations
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.