Who can vote in Texas?
You are eligible to vote if:
- You are a U. S. citizen
- You are a resident of the county
- You are at least 18 years old on Election Day
- You are not a convicted felon (or your sentence is completed including any probation or parole)
- You are not declared mentally incapacitated by a court of law
- You are registered to vote in Texas
VOTER REGISTRATION
How can I register to vote? Where can I get the voter registration application?
- Pick up a voter registration application from your local library, post office, Department of Public Safety
office, high school, Elections Office, Secretary of State's office, etc.
- Fill out the application, sign it and bring/mail it to the Bexar County Elections Office prior to 30 days before
Election Day at 1103 S. Frio, Ste. 100, San Antonio, TX 78207
- Fill out a voter registration application
online. REMEMBER: You CANNOT register online. You must print the completed application and mail/bring it
to
your Elections Office.
- Request a postage-paid application to be mailed to you. Or call the Elections Office at 210-335 VOTE (8683)
- You can register in person at the Elections Office.
- At public events, find a volunteer deputy registrar identifying herself/himself as some one who can register
voters.
Can I register online?
No. You can fill out a voter registration application online but you need to print the completed
application, sign it and mail/bring it to the Elections Office.
Do I need ID to register to vote?
You do not need to show an ID to register to vote. However, the voter registration application asks for valid Texas
driver license number or Texas Personal ID number, or last four digits of your Social Security number. You swear by
signing the form that you are a citizen and are who you say you are, and you can be charged with a crime if anything
is untrue. You will need to show ID when you vote.
What is the deadline to register to vote?
You must register prior to 30 days before an election to vote in that election. This can be either the postmark date
or the date the application is received in the office of the voter registrar.
Do I get a proof of registration?
After you apply, a voter registration certificate (your proof of registration) will be mailed to you within 30 days.
Check your certificate to be sure all information is correct. If there is a mistake, make corrections and return it
to the Elections Office immediately.
Do I need to bring my voter registration certificate/card? Will I be able to vote without it?
Bringing the card will help both you and others in line by speeding up the process, but it is not necessary. You will
be asked for a driver license or other acceptable form of positive identification.
What if I lost my voter registration certificate/card?
If you need a new card, please visit the Registration Card
Page for information on how to request a new card. Or contact the Elections Office at
210-335-VOTE (8683).
How do I know if I'm registered to vote?
You can check to see if you are registered online at the Bexar County Elections Department
website. Enter your date of birth and house number to see if you are registered. Or contact the Elections
Office at 210-335-VOTE (8683).
How do I update my registration information?
If still living within Bexar County:
Submit a change request to your voter registration card online through the Secretary of State website:
- Download and complete a voter registration
application indicating a change in name/address. Mail or fax your change request to the
Elections Office.
- Make a note of the changes to be made in the space provided on the back of your voter registration card. Mail or
fax your voter registration card to the Elections Office.
If you are moving to a new county:
How often do you have to register to vote?
Once you register to vote and vote in at least one general election in four years and – if you so choose – in a
primary or special election, you never have to register again unless you move or change your name.
PHOTO ID REQUIREMENTS FOR VOTING
Do I need photo identification to vote?
Yes. Following are the acceptable forms of photo IDs to vote:
- Texas Driver 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)
With the exception of the U.S. Citizenship Certificate, which does not expire, for voters aged 18-69, the acceptable
form of photo identification may be expired no more than four years before being presented for voter qualification
at the polling place. For voters aged 70 or older, the acceptable form of photo identification may be expired for
any length of time if the identification is otherwise valid.
What if a voter does not have any of the acceptable forms of photo ID?
If a voter does not possess an acceptable form of photo ID, the voter may still vote by presenting a supporting form
of ID and signing a Reasonable Impediment Declaration, noting the voter's reasonable impediment to obtaining an
acceptable form of photo identification, stating that the information contained in the declaration is true, and that
the voter is the same individual personally appearing at the polling place to sign the declaration.
Here is a list of supporting forms of ID:
- copy or original of a government document, including the voter's voter registration certificate, that shows the
voter's name and an address;
- copy of or original current utility bill;
- copy of or original bank statement;
- copy of or original government check;
- copy of or original paycheck; or
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).
If you are not sure if you have a correct voter ID or you need help in getting a state ID, you can call VoteRiders'
helpline at 844-438-8743.
EARLY VOTING
What is Early Voting?
Early Voting is a way to cast your ballot before Election Day either in person or by mail.
In Person
Registered and eligible voters may vote at ANY early voting location located in the county of residence. You don't
need to state a reason for voting early in person. Polling locations may vary from election to election. Check early
voting location hours online or
contact the Elections Office at 210-335-VOTE (8683). Local newspapers publish early voting locations as well.
By Mail
You may vote by mail if you are:
- Going to be away from your county on Election Day and during early voting
- Sick or disabled
- 65 years of age or older on Election Day
- Confined in jail, but eligible to vote.
When does early voting begin and end?
Early voting generally begins 17 days before an election and ends 4 days before. If the 17th day before election day
happens to land on a weekend, then early voting begins the following Monday.
Where can I get the application for ballot by mail?
- You can print an application for ballot by mail from the website and mail to Bexar
County Elections Office.
- You may request an application for a ballot by mail by calling the Elections Office at 210-335-0362 or by
mailing a request to Bexar County Elections Office.
An application for the ballot will be mailed to you. Please read all the instructions, be sure to indicate what
election you want to vote in, and be sure to sign the card. The Elections Department will verify the information
when the application is returned, and mail the ballot to you when it is available.
Is there a deadline to request an application for ballot by mail?
Application for Ballot by mail must be submitted to the Bexar County Elections Department no earlier than 2 months
before Election Day and no later than 11 days before. People over 65 or who have disabilities can request an annual
application for ballots by mail, which assures them ballots for every election during the calendar year, starting
Jan. 1 of each year. For further information, please call 210-335-0362.
VOTING DAY ASSISTANCE
What if I need help voting? Can I take someone to assist me?
You have the right to request assistance from a poll worker when voting or you can bring anyone of your choice with
you except your employer, or an officer of your union or their representatives.
Is babysitting available? Can I bring my children to the voting booth with me?
Babysitting is not available. You have the right to bring your children into the voting booth with you.
What if I cannot read or write?
You have the right to vote even if you cannot read or write. You may bring with you an interpreter who can translate,
or an assistant who can read the ballot and mark it for you.
What if I need a long time to read the ballot and vote?
You have the right to stay as long as necessary to complete your ballot.
Can I take my notes on who to vote for or how to vote with me to the voting booth?
You have the right to take a sample ballot, voters' guide, campaign materials or any other papers into the voting
booth with you. You must remove all papers when you leave the booth. You cannot take notes on an electronic device
(such as a cell phone) into the booth.
What if I have been convicted of a felony?
Once a felon has successfully completed his or her punishment, including any term of incarceration, parole,
supervision, period of probation, or has been pardoned, then that person is immediately eligible to register to
vote.
What if I have a physical disability?
The polling place must be accessible, and there must be an accessible voting booth. You may ask for assistance. You
may be assisted by a person of your choice, or by an election worker. You may not be assisted by your employer, an
officer of your union or their representatives.
What if I have difficulty walking or standing for long periods?
Curbside voting service is available to any voter who has difficulty walking or standing for long periods. If
possible, call elections office ahead of time and ask them to notify the voting site when you will be arriving. The
election official will bring your ballot to your car outside the polling location. You can also request to be moved
to the front of the line, as can your assistant.
If I am in the line on the day of elections and the polls close, do I get to vote?
You get to vote as long as you are in the line before the polls close.
Do I have to vote in every category?
No.
If I am voting in the election booth and my baby needs attention, can I stop and then come back and finish voting?
You can cancel your ballot, leave and start all over when you come back.
Can I see a ballot before I vote?
Sample ballots, which have all races for the county, not just yours, are available at all polling places, at the
Elections Office, and on the Elections Office website starting right before early voting.
Can I pick up a ballot for someone else?
You can't pick up a real ballot, but you get a sample ballot at any of the places listed above.
What language are the ballots printed in?
Sample ballots and mail-in ballots are printed in English and Spanish. Real ballots are electronic and are also
available in English and Spanish.
Can I answer my phone while I am voting?
No. Use of electronic devices is forbidden by Texas law within 100 feet of the voting machines.
VOTING: HOURS AND LOCATIONS
How do I know where to vote?
Early Voting
Registered and eligible voters may vote at ANY early voting location located in the county of residence. You can find
early voting locations online, or by calling the
Elections office at 210-335-VOTE (8683). Many newspapers publish Early Voting polling locations as well. Note:
Polling place hours vary at each early voting location.
On Election Day
You can now vote at any open polling site in Bexar County on Election Day. The list of polling sites will be
available on the Bexar County Elections website at bit.ly/voteloc after the end of early voting or by calling the
Elections Office at 210-335-VOTE (8683). The Express-News also publishes the list the weekend before Election Day.
What are the voting hours?
Election Day voting hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.