Your Voice, Your Vote: Everything you need to know for Election Day

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Tuesday, October 8, 2024 9:08PM
What to know if you're voting
Here is what you need to know if you're voting.

At ABC13 Houston, we believe our democracy works best when everyone participates.

This year, Texas voters will cast ballots for our next president and vice president, U.S. Senator, congressional and state representatives, and decide on multiple judicial races.

Early voting: Monday, Oct. 21 - Friday, Nov. 1
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5
Find your polling place

The deadline to register to vote in this year's election has passed.

How to vote by mail in Texas

Voting by mail in Texas is limited to voters who are:

  • Ages 65 and older
  • Sick or disabled
  • Expected to give birth within three weeks of Election Day
  • Out of the county on Election Day and during the early voting period
  • Confined in jail, but otherwise eligible
  • Civilly committed under Chapter 841 of the Texas Health and Safety Code

The last day to request a mail-in ballot is Friday, Oct. 25.

Click here to download an application to vote by mail.

What you can (and can't) bring to the polls

All voters must present one of the following 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)

You can still vote if you do not possess or cannot reasonably obtain one of these photo IDs. You will need to fill out a Reasonable Impediment Declaration at the polls and show a copy or original of one of the following approved IDs:

  • Certified Domestic Birth Certificate or Court Admissible Birth Document
  • Current utility bill
  • Bank statement
  • Government check
  • Paycheck
  • Government document with your name and an address, including your voter registration certificate

If you need assistance, voters may request help by any person other than the voter's employer, an agent of their employer, or an officer or agent of a labor union to which the voter belongs.

You are not permitted to use a wireless communications device or any device which records audio, images or video within 100 feet of a voting station. This includes smartphones, digital cameras or sound recorders. Election judges are authorized to require anyone to turn off or deactivate any device.

While you may be excited to vote for a particular candidate, you should not wear any campaign t-shirts, buttons, hats or other accessories to the polls. This is considered electioneering, which is not permitted within 100 feet of the voting stations.

What's on my ballot?

For a glance at what you'll see at the top of your ballot, click here (PDF).

For down ballot races, see your county election authority's website for details:

Harris Co.
Fort Bend Co.
Montgomery Co.
Galveston Co.
Chambers Co.
Liberty Co.
Waller Co.
Austin Co.
Brazoria Co.
Calhoun Co.
Colorado Co.
Grimes Co.
Jackson Co.
Matagorda Co.
Polk Co.
San Jacinto Co.
Trinity Co.
Walker Co.
Washington Co.
Wharton Co.

Issues? Call Texas Election Protection Hotline

Voting in Texas is easy, but if you should run into any problems at the polls, Texas Election Protection is ready to help.

A coalition of other non-partisan organizations and volunteers are working together to uphold the freedom to vote and equal access to the ballot box in Texas.

English: (866) OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683)
Spanish: (888) VE-Y-VOTA (888-839-8682)
Asian Languages: (888) API-VOTE (888-274-8683) - Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Korean, Tagalog, Urdu, Hindi, Bengali
Arabic: (844) YALLA-US (866-925-5287)
ASL (Video Call): (301) 818-VOTE (301-818-8683)
Disability Rights TX: (888) 796-VOTE (888-796-8683)