Vote

To register to vote in Texas, simply complete a voter registration application and return it to your county election office no later than the 30-day registration deadline.  This can be either the postmark date or the date the application is received in the office of the voter registrar. 

To complete an application, you may:

• Complete an application using the SOS ONLINE VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATION. Simply fill in the required information, print, sign and mail directly to your county election office OR

• Contact or visit your local VOTER REGISTRAR to complete the voter registration process and/or request an application be sent to you by mail.

Register in 3 steps:

1. Print and complete your form.
2. Sign it.
3. Mail it to your election official. State-specific instructions can be found in the form.

Under Texas law, voters who possess one of the seven acceptable forms of photo ID must present that ID at the polls when voting in person. Voters who do not possess and cannot reasonably obtain one of the seven approved forms of photo ID may fill out a “Reasonable Impediment Declaration” at the polls and present an alternative form of ID, such as a utility bill, bank statement, government check, or a voter registration certificate.

Acceptable forms of 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)

*For most voters, these items must be current or have expired no earlier than 4 years before the date of presentation.  For voters over 70, the ID may be expired for any length of time.  A voter who does not have a photo ID may still vote if he or she fills out a “Reasonable Impediment Declaration” and presents an original or copy of one of the following documents that shows his or her name and address:

Other government document that shows the voter’s name and an address, including a voter registration certificate

• Current utility bill
• Bank statement
• Government check
• Paycheck 
• Certified domestic birth certificate or court admissible birth certificate 

Application deadline: Your application must be received (not postmarked) by February 20, 2026.

Who Is Eligible

Texas does not offer universal vote-by-mail. You may apply for a mail ballot only if you meet one of the following criteria:

• You will be 65 years of age or older on Election Day.
• You have a disability or illness that prevents you from appearing at the polling place.
• You will be absent from your county during the entire early voting period and on Election Day.
• You are expected to give birth within three weeks before or after Election Day.
• You are confined in jail but otherwise eligible to vote.

How To Apply

1. Get the application. Download the Application for a Ballot by Mail (ABBM) from VoteTexas.gov, or contact your county’s Early Voting Clerk to request one by mail, email, or fax.
2. Fill it out completely. You must provide your Texas Driver’s License, Personal ID, or Election ID Certificate number issued by DPS — or, if you haven’t been issued one, the last four digits of your Social Security Number. The number you provide must match what is on file with your voter registration.
3. Sign and date the application. If someone helped you fill it out or will mail it for you, that person must also complete the assistant section.
4. Submit it to your county’s Early Voting Clerk — not to the Secretary of State. You can submit by mail, in person, fax, or email. It must be received by the clerk no later than February 20, 2026.

Once you receive your ballot, follow these steps carefully. Mistakes on the carrier envelope are the most common reason mail ballots get rejected.

Marking and sealing your ballot

1. Mark your ballot. Vote your choices, then place the completed ballot inside the white secrecy envelope provided.
2. Place the secrecy envelope inside the carrier envelope. Do not seal the carrier envelope yet.
3. Write your ID number under the security flap. Before sealing, you must provide — in the space under the flap — your Texas Driver’s License / Personal ID / Election ID Certificate number, or the last four digits of your SSN. This must be the same type of number you used on your application, and it must match your voter registration record.
4. Seal the carrier envelope and sign across the flap where indicated.
5. If someone assisted you with reading or marking your ballot, that person must complete and sign the Oath of Assistance on the carrier envelope, including their name, address, and relationship to you.

Don’t forget the ID number. Your ballot will not be counted if you do not include a valid ID number on the carrier envelope. This is the most common mistake voters make — and the number must match what’s on your voter registration record.

USPS postmark warning: The U.S. Postal Service has changed its operations and may not postmark your mail on the same day it takes possession of it. If you’re mailing your ballot close to Election Day, visit a USPS retail location and request a free manual postmark at the counter to guarantee the correct date. Do not rely on a mailbox drop if you’re cutting it close.