SENIORS ARTICLE: Register to Vote in Texas – February 2022

ARE YOU ALREADY REGISTERED: To confirm your voter registration status, visit Am I Registered application. If you moved from one place to another in the same county, you can change your information online at the Secretary of State’s Voter Registration Name/Address Change website.

WAYS TO REGISTER: To register to vote in Texas, simply complete a voter registration application and return it to your county election office at least 30 days before the upcoming election date. To complete an application, you may: (1) 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. (2) Request a PRINTED APPLICATION. The office will mail a voter registration application to the address provided. (3) Contact or visit your local VOTER REGISTRAR to complete registration process.

YOU ARE ELIGIBLE TO REGISTER TO VOTE IF: (1) You are a United States citizen (2) You are a resident of the county where you submit the application (3) You are at least 17 years and 10 months old and you are 18 years of age on Election Day! (4) You are not a convicted felon (you may be eligible to vote if you have completed your sentence, probation and parole); and (5) You have not been declared by a court exercising probate jurisdiction to be either totally mentally incapacitated or partially mentally incapacitated without the right to vote.

SHOW OF (7) ACCEPTABLE FORMS OF PHOTO ID: (1) Texas Driver License; (2) Show Texas Handgun License; (3) Texas Personal ID Card; (4) US Citizenship Certificate with Photo; (5) Texas Election ID Certificate; (6) US Military ID card with Photo; (7) US Passport – Card or Book

MILITARY & OVERSEAS VOTERS: “Overseas” is defined as anywhere outside the U.S. (Includes Mexico/Canada). You can use the regular registration and early voting by mail process (known as “absentee” voting)

VOTERS WITH DISABILITIES: (1) Citizen of US (2) 17 years & 10 months time of registration BUT to vote must be 128 years by Election Day (3) Have not been convicted or a felony or if they have been convicted, have completed all of their punishment, parole, supervision, probation or have received a pardon (4) Have not been determined by a final judgment of a court to be totally mentally incapacitated or partially mentally incapacitated without the right to vote (5) Individuals who have legal guardians may be eligible to register, depending on whether the court took away their right to vote. All guardianship orders issued after 1 September 2007 must state whether the individual can vote (6) People with disabilities can receive assistance registering to vote from any state agency that provides services to persons with disabilities or from any person they choose (7) On 1 September 1999, Texas became the first state to require all new voting systems be accessible to voters with disabilities and provide a practical and effective means for voters with disabilities to vast a secret ballot. ALL POLLING PLACES IN TEXAS MUST BE ACCESSIBLE!

VOTERS MAY VOTE EARLY, EITHER IN PERSON OR BY MAIL: Voters who vote during Early Voting Period may vote at any early voting site in the political subdivision that is holding the election. If a voter will be 65 years of age or older on Election Day, has a disability or will be outside the county during early voting hours and on Election Day, the voter can apply to vote by mail. Submit a completed and signed Application for a Ballot by Mail any time from the 60th to the 11th day before Election Day to the proper county early voting clerk. For more information read “Early Voting In Texas”

Secretary of State – Elections Division, PO Box 12060 Austin, TX 78711-2060

*Information provided by:
Brenda Dever-Armstrong, CEO/Owner/CSA Senior Advisor
The Next Horizon Seniors/Military Advocate/Resources/Services/Locator