|
Frequently Asked Questions
We hope these Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) will assist you with questions you may have regarding Voter registration. We encourage you to explore the Secretary of State website ( www.sos.state.tx.us) for more detailed information on elections and voting in Texas.
Getting Registered for the First Time or Making Changes to Your Current Registration
Q: I'm not registered. How can I be sure that I'm registered in time to vote?
A: The deadline to register and be eligible to vote in an upcoming election is thirty days prior to the election. The registration can be either the postmark date or the date the application is received in the office of the voter registrar. You may, of course, register at any time before that date to ensure that your registration is effective for voting in the next election. You can obtain a voter registration application from your voter registrar's office, libraries, most post offices, or from high schools. You may also open an application by going to clicking this link: Registration Application. Print and complete the application and mail it to our office at 113 West Beauregard, San Angelo, Texas, 76903.
Q: If I send my registration by the deadline, when will I receive my voter certificate?
A: Since your voter registration becomes effective 30 days after it is submitted and accepted, you should receive your voter certificate within 30 days. Once received, be sure to read the information on the back of the certificate, sign by the X on the "front" of the card (the orange area) and keep your voter card in a safe place. This is what you will take with you to the polls to vote.
Q: I am registered to vote, but I moved this past year. Is there anything I need to do to make sure that I won't have a problem voting?
A: If you moved within the same county where you are currently registered, you must file the new address information in writing with your voter registrar OR you may submit the ‘in county" change online. The last day to make a change of address that will be effective before an election is thirty days prior to the election. If you miss this deadline, you may return to your old precinct to vote but only if your new residence address is in the same city and/or political subdivision holding the election. You will be required to complete a "statement of residence" confirming your new address in your new precinct.
A: If you moved to a new county, you must re-register in your new county of residence by thirty days prior to any upcoming election.
- Addresses and phone numbers of Voter Registrars.
Q: I don't remember seeing my certificate lately. Is that a problem? Don't I just stay registered?
A: New certificates are mailed out every two years to the most recent address you gave to the voter registrar. If you do not recall receiving a new blue and white certificate in early 2010, it could mean that you have moved without updating your address or there is some other problem with your registration. If the certificate was mailed to an old address, it was returned to the registrar, and you were placed on the "suspense list" in that county. This means you have a grace period that allows you to vote in the same county in your old precinct, but if you do not vote, your name will be removed from the rolls after two federal elections have passed since you were placed on the suspense list. If you did not receive your certificate because you moved to a new Texas county, you will need to re-register in the new county.
Q: I am reviewing this page and nothing makes sense to me. These are not the rules I have heard. I'm in Connecticut -- does that matter?
A: If you are visiting our website from another state, please remember that each state has slightly different rules. These rules describe Texas state law, for voters who consider their permanent home to be in Texas and want to vote a Texas ballot. If you arrived at this page through a search engine and you need another state's election law, check the National Association of Secretaries of State page for other state websites.
Voting Without a Certificate - Voting Early - Election Day Voting
Q: I can't find my voter certificate/card. Will I be able to vote without it?
A: If you are a registered voter and you have lost or misplaced your voter certificate, you may vote without your certificate by providing some form of identification (see list below) and signing an affidavit at the polls. This is the procedure to follow if your voter registration is still current and your name appears on the voter rolls in your county of residence. You may also contact your county voter registrar to obtain a replacement certificate.
Acceptable documents are:
- a driver's license or personal identification card issued to you by the Department of Public Safety or a similar document issued to you by an agency of another state, regardless of whether the license or card has expired;
- a form of identification containing your photograph that establishes your identity;
- a birth certificate or other document confirming birth that is admissible in a court of law and establishes your identity;
- United States citizenship papers issued to you;
- a United States passport issued to you;
- official mail addressed to you, by name, from a governmental entity;
- a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and address; or
- any other form of identification prescribed by the secretary of state.
Q: How do I find out if I am registered to vote or if I am on the voter rolls in the county where I reside?
A: You can check the status of your voter registration by using the search site or you can call our office at 325-659-6541.
Q: Can anybody vote early in person, or only those people who are going to be out of town on election day? What are the dates for voting early in person?
A: Any registered voter may vote early by personal appearance (in person). Early voting by personal appearance dates are usually published on this webpage and are publicized.
Q: Where do I go to vote?
A: You may find these polling locations here: Polling Places
Q: Can anybody vote early by mail (also referred to as absentee voting)?
A: Only specific reasons entitle a person to vote early by mail (no longer called absentee voting). You may request a ballot by mail if you:
- will be away from your county on Election Day and during early voting;
- are sick or disabled;
- are 65 years of age or older on Election Day; or
- are confined in jail.
Q: I fall under one of the 4 reasons above. What do I do now? Are there deadlines connected with this procedure?
A: First, request an Application for Ballot by Mail (ABBM) from the Early Voting Clerk in the political subdivision conducting your election, or from our office. Once received, read the instructions carefully, complete the ABBM form and return to the Early Voting Clerk. There are deadlines associated with the ballot by mail procedure and these are found on the website under Important 2011 Election Dates.
Q: It's election day and I'm registered and ready to vote. Where do I go? What are the hours for voting on election day?
A: Election-day polling place information can be obtained by clicking here: Polling Places. You may also want to check your local newspaper for a listing of locations. The hours of voting on election day are 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Provisional voting is designed to allow a voter whose name does not appear on the list of registered voters due to an administrative error to vote. It is much like the former challenge affidavit procedure in two ways: (1) it involves an affidavit the voter must complete stating the reasons he or she is qualified to vote; and (2) it is used if the voter cannot be qualified by the methods described above. The key differences are: (1) the cast ballots are kept separately from the regular ballots and (2) the voter’s records will be reviewed later by the provisional voting ballot board (the early voting ballot board), and the ballot is counted only if the voter is determined to be a registered voter. Provisional voters will receive a notice in the mail by the 10th day after the local canvass advising them if their provisional ballots were counted, and if they were not counted, the reason why.
Military & Overseas Voters
Military and overseas voters are welcome to use the regular registration and early voting by mail process available to all voters away from their home county on Election Day. However, there are also special provisions for military and overseas voters that are also available on our website.
Voters with Special Needs
Student Voters
Convicted Felons and Voting
In Texas, a convicted felon regains the right to vote after completing his or her sentence. Therefore, once you have completed the punishment phase (including any term of incarceration, parole, or supervision, or completed a period of probation ordered by the court), you would be eligible to register and vote in the state of Texas.
Political Parties
For information on registered political parties in Texas, please contact those organizations directly:
Additional Information
The Secretary of State has information located in various sections of their website – " Voter Information," " Candidates" and " Conducting Your Elections" (for election administrators), just to name a few. You will notice that some materials are repeated in different places.
|
Accessible Version
Imprint