Early voting for the 2022 midterm elections is here. Texans can head to the polls to cast their votes for various state, congressional and local elected officials.
Not sure what鈥檚 on your ballot? You can use our to see your state and federal elections. You can also get a sample ballot from your county. Here are some more tips for .
Early voting runs from Monday, Oct. 24, to Friday, Nov. 4. The last day to apply to vote by mail is Friday, Oct. 28. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8.
But before you head to the polls, you should know you have rights as a voter and there are certain rules in place at voting locations about what you can bring and wear. You also need an approved photo ID to vote in person.
Where do I go to vote?
During early voting, voters can cast ballots at any polling location in the county where they are registered to vote. On Election Day, some counties may require you to vote at a location specific to your precinct, which can be found on your voter registration certificate or by checking your registration .
You can find a list of counties where voters can vote at any county polling location on Election Day from the .
Check your county elections website for early-voting times and locations and Election Day locations. You can find . But you may want to consider calling election officials to make sure polling locations haven鈥檛 changed.
鈥淚t鈥檚 also important to check in advance and call ahead to make sure that the polling location is open,鈥� said Edgar Saldivar, a senior staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas. 鈥淭here鈥檚 been cases where sometimes they close the polling location for different reasons, so you might have to go somewhere else.鈥�
You can also use the secretary of state鈥檚 website to see Election Day polling locations, but your county鈥檚 information will be the most up to date. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 8.
If you need transportation to a voting location, the rideshare company Lyft will be providing on Election Day. Voters can get a ahead of time to get a discount of up to $10 on Nov. 8. The discount code will be available to use during voting hours, and voters can also use it for bikeshare and scooter rides.
What are the rules at the polls?
There are usually traffic cones or markers 100 feet from the entrance of a polling place. That鈥檚 because cellphones, cameras, computers and other devices that can record sound or images cannot be used within 100 feet of voting stations (where ballots are marked). Election officers once inside the polling location.
Campaigning is also forbidden within those 100 feet, which means voters cannot wear clothing or other items that publicize candidates, political parties or measures on the ballot. Items publicizing past candidates and measures not currently on the ballot are OK.
What do I need to vote?
You鈥檒l need one of seven types of valid photo ID to vote in Texas:
- A state driver鈥檚 license (issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety).
- A Texas election identification certificate (issued by DPS).
- A Texas personal identification card (issued by DPS).
- A Texas license to carry a handgun (issued by DPS).
- A U.S. military ID card with a personal photo.
- A U.S. citizenship certificate with a personal photo.
- A U.S. passport.
Student IDs are not accepted. If you don鈥檛 have an approved photo ID, you can still vote by signing a 鈥渞easonable impediment鈥� form and , such as a certified birth certificate, your voter registration certificate or a current utility bill with your name and address.
If you forget your ID, you can cast a provisional ballot, which can be counted only if you provide the required photo ID or documents within six days. Read more about photo IDs .
What rights do I have as a voter?
If a registered voter鈥檚 name does not appear on the list of registered voters because of an administrative issue, they have the right to cast a .
Voters are entitled to get written instructions about how to cast a ballot or to ask a (but not about who or what to vote for).
If a voter makes a mistake while marking their ballot, they have to make corrections.
Voters with disabilities or limited English proficiency can also get interpretation , assistance or accommodations to vote.
Voters generally have the right to cast their ballots in secret and should not be subject to .
Texas voters have the right to vote during work hours without being penalized or losing pay, but this may not apply if a worker has two hours before or after work to go vote.
On Election Day, voters have the right to cast their ballot as long as they鈥檙e in line by 7 p.m.
How can I get accessibility or language accommodations?
In Texas, a voter with a disability is a voter with a 鈥渟ickness or physical condition鈥� that prevents them from voting in person without the likelihood of 鈥渘eeding personal assistance or of injuring the voter鈥檚 health.鈥� A voter does not need to prove their disability to election officials or workers and .
All polling locations in Texas must meet , including entrances and exits at least 32 inches wide and accessible curbs and stairs. Each location usually has at least one type of accessible voting equipment to accommodate voters, but you may want to check.
Voters unable to enter a polling location can also request curbside voting, but they may want to call and give the election officials a heads-up.
Voters can also choose an individual to help them with interpretation and completing their ballot at the polls. This can be a family member, friend or someone else, as long as the person is not the voter鈥檚 employer or a representative of their union.
Under new requirements passed by the Texas Legislature, a a voter must take promising to not 鈥減ressure or coerce鈥� a voter and must disclose their relationship to the voter along with their name and address.
A separate oath is also required for providing interpretation.
The person assisting the voter must read the entire ballot to voters, unless the voter asks them to read only specific sections.
A voter may also be assisted by poll workers. If a voter needs sign language interpretation and does not have a person of their choice to help them, it is recommended they call their election officials ahead of time to request assistance.
Read more about assistance and accommodations from the Texas secretary of state鈥檚 office .
What are poll watchers, and what can they do?
Poll watchers are registered voters allowed into polling places and central vote-counting stations to observe election activity and report seen or suspected irregularities.
They are appointed by a candidate, party or a political action committee in support or opposing a ballot measure but a candidate, elected official, or an employee or relative of an election officer overseeing the same polling place. They must take an from the secretary of state outlining their rights and limitations and wear a name tag indicating they are a poll watcher while at a polling location.
Poll watchers are entitled to 鈥渟it or stand near enough to see and hear the election officers鈥� carry out election activities, but they cannot audit, obstruct or intervene in elections. This means they cannot talk to voters and may talk to poll workers about the election only to report an irregularity.
In most cases, poll watchers cannot observe a voter casting their ballot, including if the voter is receiving assistance from a person of their choice.
If a voter is assisted in voting by poll workers, poll watchers can observe that process, according . They can also request translations 鈥渙f any language spoken other than English between an election official and a voter,鈥� according to the secretary of state鈥檚 training course.
Last year, the state Legislature by granting them free movement. Voting rights advocates and others opposed the changes, to room for confusion and possible voter intimidation. But Saldivar, a senior staff attorney with the ACLU of Texas, said this should not stop voters because generally 鈥渋nstances of voter harassment and intimidation are extremely rare.鈥�
鈥淧eople should make every effort to go vote,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd even if they were to experience or see any of that, there are ways to handle that.鈥�
