Houston Area Voting Information and FAQ
Houston Area Voting Information
Harris County election website
Ft Bend County election website
Montgomery County election website
Chambers County Election website
Brazoria County election website
Galveston County election website
Texas voter registration (all counties)
General voting information: www.vote411.org
Candidate Information:
A non-partisan voting guide published by the League of Women Voters of Houston
This gets updated closer to the election
Voter guide and sample ballot based on your registered address
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is the deadline to register to vote?
You must register in person at the Tax Assessor Office or other registration location by October 5, or mail your registration form in with a postmark no later than October 5th. Highly recommend doing this as early as possible. If you miss this date, you will not be able to vote in the years presidential election.
Texas voter registration (all counties)
How can I check if I'm already registered?
If you recently registered, it may take a few weeks for your information to show up in the system. If you are absolutely sure you registered to vote, but you're not listed on the website, you can ask for a provisional ballot at the voting location. The attendants can provide this. This is a special ballot that will be manually checked for eligibility. Not a big deal, just an extra step.
When does voting start?
Early voting starts October 13 in all Texas counties. Early voting ends October 30th. At that point you will need to wait until November 3rd.
What is the last day to vote?
November 3rd. You must be in line by 7pm.
How late do the polls stay open?
On Election Day (November 3rd): Polls open at 7am and close at 7pm. You must be in line by 7pm to vote. If you're in line and the polls close, you will still be allowed to vote.
Early voting hours vary by location, check your county's voting website for hours. Some locations in Harris County will be open 24 hours but only on Oct 29 https://abc13.com/harris-county-early-voting-polling-locations-houston-2020-politics/6419064/
Where can I vote?
Harris County Voting locations and wait times
Montgomery County Voting Locations
Fort Bend County Voting Locations
For other counties, see the election websites at the top of this post.
Do I need ID to vote?
You will be asked to show ID but you can still vote without it.
Valid forms of ID: TX Drivers License, TX Election ID Certificate, TX Personal Identification Card, TX Handgun License, Military ID with photo, US Citizenship Certificate with photo, US Passport.
All ID forms are valid within 4 years of expiration.
If you don't have ID you can still vote, but you'll need to jump through some hoops.
If you don't have ID and cannot obtain one due to a reasonable impediment, you'll need to sign a sworn statement that there is a reason why you don't have any of the accepted IDs, and present one of the following: certified birth certificate; valid voter registration certificate; or a current utility bill, government check, bank statement or paycheck, or government document with your name and an address. If you meet these requirements and are eligible to vote, you may vote in the election.
If you don't have ID and do not have a reasonable impediment to obtaining one or did not bring ID to the polling place, you may cast a provisional ballot. In order to have the provisional ballot counted, you will be required to visit the voter registrar's office within six (6) calendar days of the date of the election to either present one of the forms of photo ID or submit a temporary affidavit, or, if applicable, qualify for the disability exemption, in the presence of the county voter registrar while attesting to the fact that you do not have any of the required photo IDs.
I moved recently, where can I vote?
Early Voting can be done at any polling place in the county listed on your registration.
If you are registered in the following counties, you may vote anywhere within that county on Election Day: Harris, Brazoria, Liberty, Fort Bend, Galveston.
Montgomery, Waller and Chambers counties still require you to vote in the precinct listed on your registration.
If you've moved to a different county, you must re-register or request a mail in ballot. See below for details
If you've moved from another state and have not registered at your new address, check with your home states elections department for a mail in ballot.
How does early voting work?
You can take advantage of early voting anywhere in the county you're registered. Just walk in and vote like normal. It's usually far less crowded and a very quick process. A very good option if you're worried about COVID 19.
Can I vote by mail?
To vote by mail you must:
be 65 years or older; or be disabled; or be out of the county on election day and during the period for early voting by personal appearance; or be confined in jail, but otherwise eligible.
To apply for a mail in ballot go to: https://www.sos.texas.gov/elections/voter/reqabbm.shtml
As of 9/15 mail in ballot applications will be sent to all eligible voters in Harris County. This NOT a ballot, just an application for a ballot.
Your application for a ballot must be received by local voting officials by October 23.
I never received (or lost) my voter registration card. Can I still vote?
Yes. See above for acceptable forms of ID. You will still need to vote in the correct county and precinct listed on your registration.
If I made a mistake, or I missed something important, u/ me and I'll add it
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