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TEXAS

texasPrimary Election
Registration Deadline: March 5, 2012

Election Day: April 3, 2012

Open primary

General Election
Registration Deadline: October 7, 2012

Election Day: November 6, 2012

Polling Place Hours: 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM

Click Here for TX Ballot Equipment

Click Here for TX Absentee Voting Information

Click Here for TX Voter's Rights

Click Here for TX State Elections Website

Currently, one of the following forms of ID is required:

  • Driver's license
  • Voter registration certificate
  • Department of Public Safety ID card
  • Any photo ID that establishes the person's identity
  • A birth certificate
  • U.S. citizenship papers
  • U.S. passport
  • A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document with voter's name and address
  • A piece of government mail addressed to the voter
  • Any other form of ID acceptable at the secretary of state's discretion

A potential law, awaiting approval by the U.S. Department of Justice, requires one of the following forms of valid photo ID. An expired photo ID is acceptable only if it did not expire less than 60 days before the election:*

  • Driver's license
  • Election identification certificate
  • Department of Public Safety personal ID card
  • U.S. military ID
  • U.S. citizenship certificate
  • U.S. passport
  • A concealed weapon permit

* A voter lacking ID may cast a provisional ballot. For the ballot to count, the vot4er has six days after the election to either show an ID to a voter registrar or sign an affidavit.


To be eligible to register you must…

  • Be a U.S. Citizen

  • Be 18 years old on or before the date of the general, primary or other election in which you want to vote

  • Not be serving a jail sentence or be on parole for a felony conviction (Ex-felons can usually register to vote if they completed their term of probation or parole)

  • Each state may have additional voter eligibility requirements. Learn about your state's specific requirements.

What is absentee voting?

If you cannot get to your poll site on Election Day, you may qualify to vote by absentee ballot. You can vote by absentee ballot if you are temporarily or permanently ill/disabled, a member of the armed forces, or if you are out of town on Election Day, depending on your state’s absentee ballot qualifications. Requirements vary per state, but generally you have to request an application by mail a number of days before Election Day.

Voter’s Bill of Rights

Some states have enumerated specific rights that voters in their state are entitled to. Know your rights as a voter!

What is the difference between a closed and open primary?

Closed Primary
Voter may only vote for candidate belonging to your registered party.

Open Primary
Voter may vote for candidate belonging to any party.

Semi-Closed Primary
Voters not affiliated with a party may vote in any party’s primary election.

Preferential Primary
Voter may rank the candidates in order of preference.

Top Two Primary
Voters may vote for candidate belonging to any party, and the two candidates who receive the most votes qualify for the General Election.

 

Ballot Equipment

After the controversies of the 2000 U.S. presidential election, the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) was signed into law in 2002. The purpose of HAVA is to replace lever-based and punch-card voting systems; establish election administration standards and create the Election Assistance Commission for assistance in administering Federal elections. Since HAVA, many states have upgraded their voting machines.

Learn more about your state's ballot equipement here.