Are You Registered to Vote?

As you probably already know, there is a Uniform Election coming up this fall on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. In order to vote in the November 3 election in Texas, you must be registered to vote by October 5, 2020 and early voting begins October 12. Not sure if you’re already registered? Not sure how to get registered? Here are some resources to help get you registered to vote in Texas.

Check if you’re registered at your current address 

You can check to see if you are registered to vote at The Texas Secretary of State website. This site is nice if you’re unsure what address to which you are registered. It is important that you are registered at the correct address so that your ballot is accurate. If you have moved within your county, you will need to update your voting address online or contact your voter registrar.

Register to vote!

If you are not registered to vote, there are various sites that can help you get registered in about 5 minutes. You can also register to vote directly through the Texas Secretary of State Voter Registration Application. You’ll fill out the application, print, sign, and mail it by October 5. According to votetexas.gov, this can be either the postmark date or the date the application is received in the office of the voter registrar. Better sooner than later.

Now that you’re registered to vote…

Obtain a mail-in ballot

In order to qualify to receive a mail-in ballot in Texas, registered voters must be outside of the county they are voting in through the entire election period, 65 years of age or older, must cite a disability or illness, or are confined in jail but still eligible to vote. However, the Texas election code’s definition for disability is broader than the federal one, and may grant eligibility to more voters. You can read up more on voting by mail in this helpful Texas Tribune article.

Voting and staying safe 

A good resource to check your polling place and see your ballot is  VOTE411. Simply visit the website, enter your address and it will give you a sample ballot with candidate and polling location information. This way, you know your polling location and what you’re voting for beforehand. The only thing you need when you go to the polls is some form of ID or your voter certificate. COVID is still a risk, so don’t forget to wear your mask and social distance when you visit the polls! You can see tips about staying safe regarding COVID at Healthy Voting.

If you are looking to vote outside of Texas, make note that each state has slightly different procedures and early voting dates. Sites such as VOTE 411 and vote.org have information about all US states. Most questions about ID, voting locations, and anything else about voting in Texas can be answered at votetexas.gov’s FAQ section. Now that you’ve taken these steps, you’re all ready to get registered and cast your ballot!

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