Election administration in Texas

Texas 2025 elections

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Election Information
Voter registration
Early voting
Absentee/mail-in voting
All-mail voting
Voter ID laws
State poll opening and closing times
Time off work for voting

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Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker
The Ballot Bulletin
State of Election Administration Legislation Reports

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Select a state from the menu below to learn more about its election administration.

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Election administration encompasses a state's voting policies, procedures, and enforcement. These include voter identification requirements, early and absentee/mail-in voting provisions, voter list maintenance methods, and more. Each state's voting policies dictate who can vote and under what conditions.

THE BASICS

* Texas does not permit online voter registration.

* Texas permits early voting.

* Texas requires an excuse for absentee/mail-in voting.

* In Texas, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

* Texas requires photo identification to vote.

* Texas holds open primary elections.

* Texas has tools for verifying voter registration and checking the status of absentee ballots.

Below, you will find details on the following election administration topics in Texas:

* Poll times
* Voter registration
* Early and absentee/mail-in voting policy[1]
* Voter identification requirements
* Provisional ballot rules
* Primary election type
* Time off work for voting
* Voting rules for people convicted of a felony

* Voter list maintenance
* Post-election auditing
* Election policy ballot measures
* Election policy legislation
* Ballot access
* Redistricting
* Election administration agencies

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## Contents

* 1 Poll times
* 2 Voter registration
* 2.1 Automatic registration
* 2.2 Online registration
* 2.3 Same-day registration
* 2.4 Residency requirements
* 2.5 Verification of citizenship
* 2.6 Verifying your registration
* 3 Early and absentee voting policy
* 3.1 Early voting
* 3.2 Absentee/mail-in voting
* 3.2.1 Returning absentee/mail-in ballots
* 3.2.2 Signature requirements and cure provisions
* 3.2.3 Was your absentee/mail-in ballot counted?
* 4 Voter identification requirements
* 4.1 Provisional balloting for voters without ID
* 5 Provisional ballot rules
* 5.1 Was your provisional ballot counted?
* 6 Local election officials
* 7 Primary election type
* 8 Time off work for voting
* 9 Voting rules for people convicted of a felony
* 10 Voter list maintenance
* 10.1 When names can be removed from the voter list
* 10.2 Inactive voter list rules
* 10.3 The Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC)
* 11 Post-election auditing
* 12 Noteworthy events
* 12.1 Sections of 2021 SB1 related to absentee/mail-in ballots struck down in federal court (2023)
* 12.2 Gov. Abbott signs SB1 into law, making several changes to the state's election administration procedures (2021)
* 13 Election policy ballot measures
* 14 Recent legislation related to election administration in Texas
* 14.1 Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker
* 14.2 State of Election Administration Legislation Reports
* 14.3 The Ballot Bulletin
* 15 Ballot access
* 16 Redistricting
* 16.1 State process
* 17 Election administration agencies
* 17.1 Election agencies
* 18 Ballotpedia's election coverage
* 19 See also
* 19.1 Elections in Texas
* 20 External links
* 21 Footnotes

## Poll times[edit]

See also: State poll opening and closing times

In Texas, all polling places are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time. Texas is divided between the Central and Mountain time zones. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[2]

## Voter registration[edit]

Check your voter registration status here.

To register to vote in Texas, an applicant must be a United States citizen, a resident of the county in which he or she is registering, and at least 17 years and 10 months old.[3]

The deadline to register to vote is 30 days before the election. Prospective voters can request a postage-paid voter registration form online or complete the form online and return it to the county voter registrar. Applications are also available at a variety of locations including the county voter registrar’s office, the secretary of state’s office, libraries, and high schools. Voter registration certificates are mailed to newly registered voters.[4]

### Automatic registration[edit]

Texas does not practice automatic voter registration.[5]

### Online registration[edit]

See also: Online voter registration

Texas does not permit online voter registration.[5]

### Same-day registration[edit]

Texas does not allow same-day voter registration.[5]

### Residency requirements[edit]

Prospective voters must reside in the county in which they are registering to vote.[6]

### Verification of citizenship[edit]

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

Texas does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury.

State law requires election officials to conduct a check of registered voters' citizenship status. Section 18.068 of the Texas Election Code says the following:

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The secretary of state shall quarterly compare the information received under Section 16.001 of this code and Section 62.113, Government Code, to the statewide computerized voter registration list. If the secretary determines that a voter on the registration list is deceased or has been excused or disqualified from jury service because the voter is not a citizen, the secretary shall send notice of the determination to the voter registrar of the counties considered appropriate by the secretary.[7]

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—Section 18.068, Texas Election Code[8]

In January 2019, the Texas secretary of state’s office announced that it would be providing local election officials with a list of registered voters who obtained driver’s licenses or IDs with documentation such as work visas or green cards. Counties would then be able to require voters on the list to provide proof of citizenship within 30 days.[9] The review was halted by a federal judge in February 2019, and Secretary of State David Whitley rescinded the advisory in April.[10][11] A news release from Whitley’s office stated that “... going forward, the Texas Secretary of State's office will send to county voter registrars only the matching records of individuals who registered to vote before identifying themselves as non-U.S. citizens to DPS when applying for a driver's license or personal identification card. This will ensure that naturalized U.S. citizens who lawfully registered to vote are not impacted by this voter registration list maintenance process.”[12]

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[13] As of January 2025, six states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, and New Hampshire — had passed laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration. However, only two of those states' laws were in effect, in Arizona and New Hampshire. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allowed noncitizens to vote in some local elections as of November 2024. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

### Verifying your registration[edit]

The Texas Secretary of State’s office allows residents to check their voter registration status online by visiting this website.

## Early and absentee voting policy[edit]

### Early voting[edit]

See also: Early voting

Texas permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.

Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.

As of February 2024, 47 states and the District of Columbia permitted no-excuse early voting.

### Absentee/mail-in voting[edit]

See also: Absentee/mail-in voting

Texas voters are eligible to vote absentee in an election if:

* They cannot make it to the polls on Election Day because they will be away from the county on Election Day and during early voting;
* They are sick or disabled;
* They are 65 years of age or older; or
* They are confined in jail.[14]

To vote absentee, a request must be received by county election officials no later than close of regular business on the eleventh day before the election. The completed ballot must then be returned by the close of polls on Election Day.[15]

#### Returning absentee/mail-in ballots[edit]

See also: Mail ballot collection and return laws by state

In Texas, voters can return absentee ballots can by mail or in person. According to the Texas Secretary of State, absentee ballots can be returned to an "Early Voting Clerk either by mail, by common or contract carrier, or in person on Election Day at [a voter's] county’s early voting clerk’s office."[16]

Ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day if returned in person or by mail in an envelope that is not postmarked. Ballots postmarked by 7 p.m. on Election Day must be received by 5 p.m. on the day after election.[16]

An individual related to a voter “within the second degree by affinity or the third degree by consanguinity” can return a ballot on behalf of a voter.[17] According to Texas law, the following relationships qualify under that definition:[18]

* spouse
* child or parent
* mother-in-law or father-in-law
* son-in-law or daughter-in-law
* stepson or stepdaughter
* stepmother or stepfather
* grandchild or grandparent (including in-laws)
* great-grandchild or great-grandparent
* sibling (including in-laws)
* aunt, uncle, niece, or nephew by blood relation through parent

As of November 2024, 20 states allowed anyone chosen by the voter to return a ballot on the voter's behalf, with certain exceptions, while 16 states allowed anyone with certain relationships to the voter to return the voter's ballot. Four states allowed only the voter to return the voter's ballot, with certain exceptions, and two states required voters to return their ballots by mail. Eight states and D.C. did not specify who may return ballots.

#### Signature requirements and cure provisions[edit]

Texas requires voters to provide an identification number and signature with their returned absentee ballot. According to the Texas Secretary of State, voters must provide one of the following on their ballot envelope:[16]

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* The number of your driver license, election identification certificate, or personal identification card issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS);
* The last four digits of your social security number, if you have not been issued any of the abovementioned numbers by DPS; OR
* A statement that you have not been issued a number described by (1) or (2) above.[7]

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Voters then must sign place their ballot envelope in a carrier envelope and sign the carrier envelope.[16]

Texas has a cure provision requiring election officials on a verification committee to compare the signature on each absentee/mail-in carrier envelope certificate to the signature on the voter's ballot application. If a discrepancy is discovered, the election officials must notify the voter so that he or she may correct the discrepancy. Texas law states the following:

“  | No later than the second business day after an early voting ballot board discovers a defect, the board shall determine if it’s possible for the voter to correct the defect and return the envelope before the polls close on Election Day. If the board determines it’s possible, the board shall return the envelope to the voter by mail. If the board determines that it would not be possible for the voter to correct the defect and return the ballot by mail, the board may notify the voter by telephone or email that the voter may request to have the voter’s application to vote by mail canceled or to come to the clerk’s office in person to correct the defect. Voters have until the close of polls on Election Day to return a cure by mail. Voters have until no later than the sixth day after Election Day to correct a defect in person at the clerk’s office.[5][19][20][7] | ”

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As of November 2024, 33 states had laws that included cure provisions, while 17 states did not. One state, Pennsylvania, allowed counties to establish a cure process.

#### Was your absentee/mail-in ballot counted?[edit]

Use the Absentee Ballot Search tool provided by the Texas Secretary of State office to check the status of your absentee ballot.

## Voter identification requirements[edit]

See also: Voter ID in Texas
See also: Voter identification laws by state

Texas requires voters to present photo identification while voting.[21]

The following list of accepted ID was current as of February 2023. Click here for the Texas Secretary of State's page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.

* Texas driver’s license issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
* Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS
* Texas Personal Identification Card issued by DPS
* Texas handgun license issued by DPS
* United States Military Identification Card containing the person’s photograph
* United States Citizenship Certificate containing the person’s photograph
* United States passport (book or card)

Identification provided by voters aged 18-69 may be expired for no more than four years before the election date. Voters aged 70 and older can use an expired ID card regardless of how long ago the ID expired.[21]

Voters who are unable to provide one of the ID options listed above can sign a Reasonable Impediment Declaration and provide one of the following supporting documents:[21]

* Copy or original of a government document that shows the voter’s name and an address, including the voter’s voter registration certificate
* Copy of or original current utility bill
* Copy of or original bank statement
* Copy of or original government check
* Copy of or original paycheck
* Copy of or original of (a) a certified domestic (from a U.S. state or territory) birth certificate or (b) a document confirming birth admissible in a court of law which establishes the voter’s identity (which may include a foreign birth document)

The following voters are exempt from showing photo ID:[21]

* Voters with a disability
* Voters with a disability "may apply with the county voter registrar for a permanent exemption to presenting an acceptable photo identification or following the Reasonable Impediment Declaration procedure in the county."
* Voters who have a religious objection to being photographed

Voters who do not have a photo ID can obtain a Texas Election Identification Certificate (EIC) at any Texas driver’s license office during regular business hours. Voters can also obtain an Election Identification Certificate from a mobile station. Locations are listed here.[21]

Click here to learn more about the background of Texas' law.

As of November 2024, 35 states required voters to present identification in order to vote at the polls on Election Day. Of these states, 23 required voters to present identification containing a photograph, and 12 accepted other forms of identification. The remaining 15 states did not require voters to present identification in order to vote at the polls on Election Day.

Valid forms of identification differ by state. In certain states that require voters to provide identification, there may be exceptions that allow some voters to cast a ballot without providing an ID. To see more about these exceptions, see details by state. Commonly accepted forms of ID include driver's licenses, state-issued identification cards, and military identification cards.

#### Provisional balloting for voters without ID[edit]

Voters who do not have ID while voting may cast provisional ballots. See below for provisional ballot rules.

## Provisional ballot rules[edit]

Voters in Texas are given provisional ballots, or ballots requiring additional steps or information before they can be counted, under the following circumstances.[22]

(1) If the voter’s name does not appear on the list of registered voters, the voter has the right to cast a provisional ballot.

(2) If the voter is unable to present proper identification, the voter has the right to cast a provisional ballot.

According to the Texas Secretary of State:[22]

“  | The provisional voting process involves an affidavit that (1) the voter must complete stating the reasons he or she is qualified to vote; and (2) is used if the voter’s registration cannot be verified by the polling place election officials OR if a voter (a) does not possess one of the acceptable forms of photo identification listed above, and a voter can reasonably obtain one of these forms of identification or (b) possesses, but did not bring to the polling place, one of the seven forms of acceptable photo identification listed above, or (c) does not possess one of the seven forms of acceptable photo identification, could otherwise not reasonably obtain one, but did not bring a supporting form of identification to the polling place.

The provisional voting process requires the voter to visit the voter registrar’s office within six (6) calendar days of the date of the election to either present one of the above seven (7) acceptable forms of photo ID OR if the voter does not possess, and cannot reasonably obtain an acceptable form of photo identification, execute a Reasonable Impediment Declaration and present one of the acceptable forms of supporting ID, OR, if applicable, submit one of the temporary affidavits (e.g., religious objection or natural disaster) OR, if applicable, qualify for a permanent disability exemption, in order for the provisional ballot to count.[7]

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#### Was your provisional ballot counted?[edit]

A provisional ballot is counted in the following circumstances:[23]

* If the voter is "eligible to vote in the election and has not previously voted in that election"; or
* If the voter provides proper identification, signs an affidavit stating a religious objection to being photographed, or signs an affidavit stating "the voter does not have any identification as a result of a natural disaster that was declared by the president of the United States or the governor, occurred not earlier than 45 days before the date the ballot was cast."

## Local election officials[edit]

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Do you need information about elections in your area? Are you looking for your local election official? Click here to visit the U.S. Vote Foundation and use their election official lookup tool.|

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## Primary election type[edit]

See also: Primary elections in Texas

A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Texas utilizes an open primary system. Voters do not have to register with a party in advance in order to participate in that party's primary. The voter must sign a pledge stating the following (the language below is taken directly from state statutes)[24]

“  | The following pledge shall be placed on the primary election ballot above the listing of candidates' names: 'I am a (insert appropriate political party) and understand that I am ineligible to vote or participate in another political party's primary election or convention during this voting year.'[7] | ”

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For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

## Time off work for voting[edit]

In Texas, employers commit a misdemeanor level offense if they impede employees' right to two hours paid time off of work to vote--employers are not obligated to grant time off if employees have two hours during non-work time to vote:

“  | (a) A person commits an offense if, with respect to another person over whom the person has authority in the scope of employment, the person knowingly:

(1) refuses to permit the other person to be absent from work on election day for the purpose of attending the polls to vote; or (2) subjects or threatens to subject the other person to a penalty for attending the polls on election day to vote. (b) It is an exception to the application of this section that the person's conduct occurs in connection with an election in which the polls are open on election day for voting for two consecutive hours outside of the voter's working hours. (c) In this section, "penalty" means a loss or reduction of wages or another benefit of employment. (d) An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor.[25][7]

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As of September 2024, 28 states required employers to grant employees time off to vote. Within these 28 states, policies varied as to whether that time off must be paid and how much notice must be given.

## Voting rules for people convicted of a felony[edit]

See also: Voting rights for people convicted of a felony

In Texas, people who receive a final felony conviction regain their voting rights automatically upon completion of their entire sentence, including incarceration, parole, probation, or supervision–voting rights can also be restored before the completion of the sentence with a pardon. A final felony conviction includes only the sentence pertaining to the crime. Click here for more information on Texas' treatment of felony convictions and voting rights.[26]

Voting rights for people convicted of a felony vary from state to state. In the majority of states, people convicted of a felony cannot vote while they are incarcerated but may regain the right to vote upon release from prison or at some point thereafter.[5]

## Voter list maintenance[edit]

All states have rules under which they maintain voter rolls—or, check and remove certain names from their lists of registered voters. Most states are subject to the parameters set by The National Voter Registration Act (NVRA).[27] The NVRA requires states to make efforts to remove deceased individuals and individuals who have become ineligible due to a change of address. It prohibits removing registrants from voter lists within 90 days of a federal election due to change of address unless a registrant has requested to be removed, or from removing people from voter lists solely because they have not voted. The NVRA says that states may remove names from their registration lists under certain other circumstances and that their methods for removing names must be uniform and nondiscriminatory.[28]

#### When names can be removed from the voter list[edit]

Texas law authorizes election officials to remove the names of voters from the registered voting list if an individual:[29]

* confirms in writing that they have moved outside of their voting jurisdiction
* dies
* is adjudged to be mentally incapacitated for the purpose of voting
* is incarcerated for a felony conviction
* is determined to have moved outside of the state
* is determined to be ineligible to vote
* remains on the inactive or suspense voter list through two consecutive general elections.

#### Inactive voter list rules[edit]

Anytime a voter registration certificate sent by election officials to a voter is returned as undeliverable or a voter fails to respond to a confirmation notice, they are to be placed on the voter suspense, or inactive, list. If a voter remains on the suspense list—by not updating their registration information or voting—through two following general elections after being added to the list, their registration is to be canceled.[30]

#### The Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC)[edit]

See also: Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC)

According to its website, ERIC is a nonprofit corporation that is governed by a board of member-states. These member states submit voter registration and motor vehicle registration information to ERIC. ERIC uses this information, as well as Social Security death records and other sources, to provide member states with reports showing voters who have moved within their state, moved out of their state, died, have duplicate registrations in their state, or are potentially eligible to vote but are not yet registered. ERIC's website describes its funding as follows: "Members fund ERIC. New members pay a one-time membership fee of $25,000, which is reserved for technology upgrades and other unanticipated expenses. Members also pay annual dues. Annual dues cover operating costs and are based, in part, on the citizen voting age population in each state."[31]

By 2022, 33 states and the District of Columbia had joined ERIC. As of May 2024, 24 states and the District of Columbia were members in the ERIC program.[32]

As of August 2023, Texas was not participating in the ERIC program.

On July 20, 2023, Texas Director of Elections Christina Adkins submitted Texas resignation from ERIC, formally withdrawing the state from the organization. The withdrawal will become effective on Oct. 19, 2023, per ERIC bylaws. Alicia Pierce, a representative for Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson, said compliance with SB1070, a new law signed y Gov. Greg Abbott (R) on June 18, 2023, was the reason for Texas’ withdrawal. Pierce also said, “As fewer states are participating, the costs are increasing and the amount of data we’re going to receive will be reduced.”[33][34]

## Post-election auditing[edit]

Texas state law requires post-election audits. Local election officials audit "not more than three races in 1% of precincts or three precincts, whichever is greater." If there are discrepancies, the election official must find the cause of the discrepancy. The audit must begin within 72 hours after the polls close, and it must be completed no later than the 21st day after the election.[35]

Post-election audits check that election results tallied by a state's voting system match results from paper records, such as paper ballots filled out by voters or the paper records produced by electronic voting machines. Post-election audits are classified into two categories: audits of election results—which include traditional post-election audits as well as risk-limiting audits—and procedural audits.[36][37]

Typically, traditional post-election audits are done by recounting a portion of ballots, either electronically or by hand, and comparing the results to those produced by the state's voting system. In contrast, risk-limiting audits use statistical methods to compare a random sample of votes cast to election results instead of reviewing every ballot. The scope of procedural audits varies by state, but they typically include a systematic review of voting equipment, performance of the voting system, vote totals, duties of election officials and workers, ballot chain of custody, and more.

As of October 2024, 49 states and the District of Columbia had some form of post-election audit by law. Of these, 35 states and the District of Columbia required traditional post-election audits, while six states required risk-limiting post-election audits by law. Eight states used some other form of post-election audit, including procedural post-election audits.[38][39]

## Noteworthy events[edit]

### Sections of 2021 SB1 related to absentee/mail-in ballots struck down in federal court (2023)[edit]

On August 17, 2023, Judge Xavier Rodriguez of the  U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas struck down two sections of 2021 Senate Bill 1 for violating Section 101 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Rodriguez wrote:[40]

“  | After reviewing the summary judgment record, the Court concludes that Sections 5.07 and 5.13 of S.B.1, codified in Sections 86.001(f) and 87.041(b)(8) of the Texas Election Code, require officials to reject mail-in ballot applications and mail-in ballots based on errors or omissions on a record or paper relating to an act requisite to voting that are not material in determining whether voters are qualified under Texas law to vote or to cast a mail ballot, in violation of the Materiality Provision of Section 101 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 52 U.S.C. § 10101(a)(2)(B).[7] | ”

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Those two sections of the law required early voting clerks to reject mail-in ballot applications and prohibited completed mail-in ballots from being accepted if certain information—the driver's license number, the last four digits of the social security number, or certain alternatives—did not match the number on the individual's voter registration application.[41]

Section 101 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 says, "No person acting under color of law shall ... deny the right of any individual to vote in any Federal election because of an error or omission on any record or paper relating to any application, registration, or other act requisite to voting, if such error or omission is not material in determining whether such individual is qualified under State law to vote in such election.”[42]

### Gov. Abbott signs SB1 into law, making several changes to the state's election administration procedures (2021)[edit]

On September 7, 2021, Governor Greg Abbott (R) signed SB1 into law, making a series of changes to Texas' election administration laws. These changes included, but were not limited to, the following:[43][44][20]

* Early voting: SB1 extended early voting hours, requiring that polling sites be open at least nine hours per day, from no earlier than 6 a.m. to no later than 10 p.m. State law previously required that early voting locations be open at least eight hours per day.
* Absentee/mail-in voting: SB1 established that an individual voting by absentee/mail-in ballot must include either a driver's license number or the last four digits of a Social Security number on the return envelope for the ballot. SB1 also established that local election officials must give individuals the opportunity to correct absentee/mail-in ballot defects, provided that officials determine "it would be possible for the voter to correct the defect" before polls close on Election Day.
* Voter assistance: SB1 established that an individual assisting a voter must sign a document, under penalty of perjury, attesting that the voter requires assistance due to physical disability or inability to read the ballot language.
* Poll watchers: SB1 established that a poll watcher must "not be denied free movement where election activity is occurring." SB1 also established that election officials who deny access to poll watchers could be subject to criminal prosecution.
* Crimes: SB1 established the following activities as crimes:
* "In-person interaction with one or more voters, in the presence of the ballot or during the voting process, intended to deliver voters for a specific candidate or measure" in exchange for payment or another benefit.
* "Unlawful solicitation and distribution of a ballot by mail, which will occur when a public official sends an application to vote by mail to somebody who did not request it."

On August 31, 2021, both the Texas House of Representatives and the Texas State Senate approved SB1. The House voted 80-40, with 80 Republicans voting in favor and 40 Democrats and one Republican voting in opposition. The Senate voted 18-13, with all Republicans voting in favor and all Democrats voting in opposition.[20]

After the enactment of SB1, several entities filed lawsuits contesting various provisions of the law:

* Houston Justice v. Abbott (U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas; complaint).
* La Union del Pueblo Entero v. Abbott (U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas; complaint).
* Texas State Conference of the NAACP v. Abbott (Harris County District Court; complaint).
* OCA-Greater Houston v. Texas Secretary of State (U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas; complaint).
* Lulac Texas v. Esparza (U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas; complaint).
* United States v. Texas (U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas; complaint).

## Election policy ballot measures[edit]

See also: Elections and campaigns on the ballot and List of Texas ballot measures

Ballotpedia has tracked the following ballot measures relating to election and campaign policy in Texas.

1. Texas Proposition 15, Elections for County Surveyors Amendment (1993)
2. Texas Proposition 18, Local Elections With Unopposed Candidates Amendment (September 2003)
3. Texas Proposition 9, Legislative Vacancies Amendment (2001)
4. Texas Proposition 6, Appointment of Presidential Electors Amendment (2001)
5. Texas Proposition 8, State and Local Elections with Unopposed Candidates Amendment (September 2003)
6. Texas Proposition 8, Voting Requirements Amendment (1966)
7. Texas Proposition 2, Election of Railroad Commissioners Amendment (1894)
8. Texas Proposition 2, Require Noncitizens to Declare Intent to Become Citizens to Vote Amendment (1896)
9. Texas Proposition 1, Poll Tax Payment Amendment (1902)
10. Texas Proposition 7, Qualifications to Vote on Bond Issues Amendment (1932)
11. Texas Proposition 1, Military Poll Tax Exemption Amendment (August 1945)
12. Texas Proposition 4, Poll Tax and Voter Registration Amendment (1949)
13. Texas Proposition 1, Poll Tax Repeal Amendment (1963)
14. Texas Proposition 7, Poll Tax Repeal Amendment (1966)
15. Texas Proposition 14, Voting in the Armed Forces Amendment (1966)
16. Texas Proposition 3, Voter and Election Constitutional Provisions Amendment (1975)
17. Texas Proposition 8, State Debt Ballot Questions Amendment (1991)
18. Texas Proposition 1, Voting in Different Precincts Amendment (July 1915)
19. Texas Proposition 10, Automatic Resignation Term Length Amendment (2011)

## Recent legislation related to election administration in Texas[edit]

The table below lists bills related to election administration that have been introduced during (or carried over to) the current legislative session in Texas. The following information is included for each bill:

* State
* Bill number
* Official bill name or caption
* Most recent action date
* Legislative status
* Sponsor party
* Topics dealt with by the bill

Bills are organized by most recent action. The table displays up to 100 results. To view more bills, use the arrows in the upper-right corner. Clicking on a bill will open its page on Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker, which includes bill details and a summary.

### Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker[edit]

State election laws are changing. Keeping track of the latest developments in all 50 states can seem like an impossible job.

Here's the solution: Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker.

Ballotpedia's Election Administration Tracker sets the industry standard for ease of use, flexibility, and raw power. But that's just the beginning of what it can do:

* Ballotpedia's election experts provide daily updates on bills and other relevant political developments
* We translate complex bill text into easy-to-understand summaries written in everyday language
* And because it's from Ballotpedia, our Tracker is guaranteed to be neutral, unbiased, and nonpartisan

### State of Election Administration Legislation Reports[edit]

Ballotpedia publishes regular analysis of election administration legislation, including three full reports per year, providing ongoing coverage of legislative activity affecting election policy in each state. These reports deliver insights into partisan priorities, dive deep into notable trends, and highlight activity in key states.

Below are links to the most recent editions. Click here to see all past reports, and be on the lookout for more throughout the year!

* State of Election Administration Legislation 2024 Year-End Report
* State of Election Administration Legislation 2024 Mid-Year Report
* State of Election Administration Legislation, May 2024 Roundup

### The Ballot Bulletin[edit]

The Ballot Bulletin is a weekly email that delivers the latest updates on election policy. The Ballot Bulletin tracks developments in election policy around the country, including legislative activity, big-picture trends, and recent news. Each email contains in-depth data from our Election Administration Legislation Tracker. You'll also be able to track relevant legislation, with links to and summaries of the bills themselves.

Click here to view recent issues and subscribe.

## Ballot access[edit]

See also: Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Texas

A cardboard ballot box at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History

In order to get on the ballot in Texas, a candidate for state or federal office must meet a variety of state-specific filing requirements and deadlines. These regulations, known as ballot access laws, determine whether a candidate or party will appear on an election ballot. These laws are set at the state level. A candidate must prepare to meet ballot access requirements well in advance of primaries, caucuses, and the general election.

There are three basic methods by which an individual may become a candidate for office in a state.

1. An individual can seek the nomination of a state-recognized political party.
2. An individual can run as an independent. Independent candidates often must petition in order to have their names printed on the general election ballot.
3. An individual can run as a write-in candidate.

This article outlines the steps that prospective candidates for state-level and congressional office must take in order to run for office in Texas. For information about filing requirements for presidential candidates, click here. Information about filing requirements for local-level offices is not available in this article (contact state election agencies for information about local candidate filing processes).

## Redistricting[edit]

See also: Redistricting in Texas

"Gerrymandering"

Redistricting is the process by which new congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn. Each of Texas' 38 United States Representatives and 181 state legislators are elected from political divisions called districts. United States Senators are not elected by districts, but by the states at large. District lines are redrawn every 10 years following completion of the United States census. The federal government stipulates that districts must have nearly equal populations and must not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity.[45][46][47][48]

Texas was apportioned 38 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives after the 2020 census, two more than it received after the 2010 census. Click here for more information about redistricting in Texas after the 2020 census.

HIGHLIGHTS

* Following the 2020 United States Census, Texas was apportioned 38 congressional districts, two more than the number it had after the 2010 census.

* Texas' House of Representatives is made up of 150 districts; Texas' State Senate is made up of 31 districts.

* In Texas, congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn by the state legislature. If the legislature fails to approve a state legislative redistricting plan, a backup commission must draw the lines (the backup commission is not involved in congressional redistricting).

* Texas' congressional and state legislative district maps that were drawn after the 2010 census have been subject to litigation. On June 25, 2018, the Supreme Court of the United States reversed a district court decision striking down several congressional and state legislative district maps as unconstitutional racial gerrymanders (the high court upheld the district court's finding of racial gerrymandering with respect to one state House district). Click here to learn more.

### State process[edit]

See also: State-by-state redistricting procedures

In Texas, both congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn by the Texas State Legislature. These lines are subject to veto by the governor.[49]

If the state legislature is unable to approve a state legislative redistricting plan, a backup commission must draw the lines (the backup commission is not involved in congressional redistricting). This backup commission, established in 1948, comprises the following members:[49]

1. Lieutenant governor
2. Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives
3. Attorney general
4. State comptroller
5. Commissioner of the General Land Office

The Texas Constitution requires that state legislative districts be contiguous and "that they preserve whole counties when population mandates permit."[49]

## Election administration agencies[edit]

### Election agencies[edit]

Seal of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission

See also: State election agencies

Individuals seeking additional information about voting provisions in Texas can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.

Texas County Clerks

Click here for a list

Texas Secretary of State, Elections Division

Physical Address: James E. Rudder Building
1019 Brazos St.
Austin, Texas 78701
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 12060
Austin, Texas 78711-2060
Phone: 512-463-5650
Toll free: 1-800-252-8683
Fax: 512-475-2811
Email: elections@sos.texas.gov
Website: http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/

Texas Ethics Commission

Physical Address: Sam Houston Building
201 East 14th St., 10th Floor
Austin, Texas 78701
Mailing Address: P. O. Box 12070
Austin, Texas 78711-2070
Phone: 512-463-5800
Email: reception@ethics.state.tx.us
Website: https://www.ethics.state.tx.us

U.S. Election Assistance Commission

633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 301-563-3919
Toll free: 1-866-747-1471
Email: clearinghouse@eac.gov
Website: https://www.eac.gov

## Ballotpedia's election coverage[edit]

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Democratic primaries 2024

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Republican primaries 2024

* United States Senate Republican Party primaries, 2024
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* State legislative Republican primaries, 2024

## See also[edit]

* State of Election Administration Legislation Reports
* Voting in Texas
* Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Texas
* Redistricting in Texas

### Elections in Texas[edit]

* Texas elections, 2025
* Texas elections, 2024
* Texas elections, 2023
* Texas elections, 2022
* Texas elections, 2021
* Texas elections, 2020
* Texas elections, 2019
* Texas elections, 2018
* Texas elections, 2017
* Texas elections, 2016
* Texas elections, 2015
* Texas elections, 2014

## External links[edit]

* Texas Secretary of State - Elections

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ We use the term "absentee/mail-in voting" to describe systems in which requests or applications are required. We use the term "all-mail voting" to denote systems where the ballots themselves are sent automatically to all voters. We use the hyphenate term for absentee voting because some states use “mail voting” (or a similar alternative) to describe what has traditionally been called "absentee voting."
2. ↑ VoteTexas.gov, "Who, What, Where, When, How," accessed February 27, 2023
3. ↑ Texas Secretary of State, “Request for Voter Registration Applications,” accessed February 27, 2023
4. ↑ Texas Secretary of State, “Voter Registration,” accessed February 27, 2023
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 NCSL, "State Profiles: Elections," accessed July 28, 2024 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; name "ncsl" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; name "ncsl" defined multiple times with different content
6. ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "Request for Voter Registration Applications," accessed July 28, 2024
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
8. ↑ Texas Constitution and Statutes, “Election Code,” accessed February 23, 2023
9. ↑ The Texas Tribune, “Texas officials flag tens of thousands of voters for citizenship checks,” January 25, 2019
10. ↑ The New York Times, “Federal Judge Halts ‘Ham-Handed’ Texas Voter Purge,” February 28, 2019
11. ↑ The New York Times, “Texas Ends Review That Questioned Citizenship of Almost 100,000 Voters,” April 26, 2019
12. ↑ Texas Secretary of State, “Secretary Whitley Announces Settlement In Litigation On Voter Registration List Maintenance Activity,” April 26, 2019
13. ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
14. ↑ VoteTexas.gov, "FAQ," accessed December 16, 2013
15. ↑ VoteTexas.gov, "Early Voting," accessed December 16, 2013
16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 https://www.votetexas.gov/mobile/voting/voting-by-mail.htm VoteTexas.gov, “Voting by Mail,'” accessed October 7, 2024]
17. ↑ Texas Legislature Online, “Texas Election Code, Section 86.006,” accessed February 27, 2023
18. ↑ Texas Health and Human Services, “Definition of the Term 'Relative,'” accessed February 27, 2023
19. ↑ Texas Election Code, "Chapter 87: Processing Early Voting Results," accessed July 28, 2024
20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 Texas Legislature, "SB1," accessed February 27, 2023 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; name "sb1" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; name "sb1" defined multiple times with different content
21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 Texas Secretary of State, "Required Identification for Voting in Person," accessed February 27, 2023 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; name "tvid" defined multiple times with different content
22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 VoteTexas.gov, "FAQ," accessed February 23, 2023
23. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Provisional Ballots," accessed February 27, 2023
24. ↑ Texas Statutes, "Section 172.086," accessed October 7, 2024
25. ↑ Texas Constitution and Statutes, "Election Code," accessed February 23, 2023
26. ↑ Texas Secretary of State Ruth R. Hughs, "Request for Voter Registration Applications," accessed February 27, 2023
27. ↑ As of May 2024, the Justice Department notes, "Six States (Idaho, Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming) are exempt from the NVRA because, on and after August 1, 1994, they either had no voter-registration requirements or had election-day voter registration at polling places with respect to elections for federal office."
28. ↑ The United States Department of Justice, "The National Voter Registration Act of 1993," accessed May 29, 2024
29. ↑ Texas Constitution and Statutes, "16.031 - 16.038," accessed February 27, 2023
30. ↑ Texas Constitution and Statutes, "16.032," accessed October 7, 2024
31. ↑ ERIC, "FAQ," accessed May 29, 2024
32. ↑ ERIC, "Who We Are," accessed May 29, 2024
33. ↑ The State of Texas; Secretary of State Jane Nelson, "Letter of resignation, Electronic Information Registration Center," July 20, 2023
34. ↑ The Texas Tribune, "Texas begins withdrawal from multistate partnership to clean voter rolls," July 20, 2023
35. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Post-Election Audits," accessed February 27, 2023
36. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Post-Election Audits," accessed July 23, 2024
37. ↑ Election Assistance Commission, "Election Audits Across the United States," accessed August 22, 2024
38. ↑ Ballotpedia research conducted in October 2024, researching and analyzing various state websites and codes.
39. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Post-Election Audits," accessed October 4, 2024
40. ↑ Democracy Docket, "Case 5:21-cv-00844-XR Document 724," August 17, 2023
41. ↑ Texas Legislature Online, " SB 1 - Enrolled version," August 31, 2021
42. ↑ National Archives, "Civil Rights Act (1964)," accessed September 1, 2023
43. ↑ The Texas Tribune, "Gov. Greg Abbott signs Texas voting bill into law, overcoming Democratic quorum breaks," September 7, 2021
44. ↑ Austin American-Statesman, "From polls to ballots, here's what a new Texas voting law means for you," updated September 7, 2021
45. ↑ All About Redistricting, "Why does it matter?" accessed April 8, 2015
46. ↑ Indy Week, "Cracked, stacked and packed: Initial redistricting maps met with skepticism and dismay," June 29, 2011
47. ↑ The Atlantic, "How the Voting Rights Act Hurts Democrats and Minorities," June 17, 2013
48. ↑ Redrawing the Lines, "The Role of Section 2 - Majority Minority Districts," accessed April 6, 2015
49. ↑ 49.0 49.1 49.2 All About Redistricting, "Texas," accessed May 7, 2015

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