Early voting is underway in Texas. Know your rights in elections

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Voting for the 2024 election begins on Monday. Texans can go to the polls to cast their votes for the President and various federal, state and, in certain cases, local elected officials.

These elected officials have a say in how much taxes Texans pay, what students learn in public schools, what health care — including reproductive health care — is available, and many other aspects of people's lives.

Before you go to the polls, you should be aware that you have rights as a voter and that polling places have certain rules about what you can bring and wear. You will also need an approved photo ID to vote in person.

What rights do I have as a voter?

If a registered voter's name does not appear on the voter list due to an administrative problem, he or she has the right to cast a provisional vote.

Voters generally have the right to cast their vote in secret and should not be subject to intimidation.

Voters have the right to receive written instructions about how to vote or to question a polling place official or employee (but not about who or what to vote for).

Remember to check your ballot for possible errors. You have the right to receive up to two additional ballots to make corrections. The false ballot papers are falsified and not counted.

Texas law says voters have the right to vote during work hours without being penalized or losing pay. However, this may not apply if an employee has two hours before or after work to vote.

On election day, voters have the right to cast their vote as long as they are in line by 7 p.m

Voters with disabilities or limited English proficiency may benefit from interpretation, assistance or accommodations for voting. Read more about it in the next section.

If you experience difficulty voting, you can contact your county elections official, the Secretary of State's Office at 1-800-252-VOTE (8683), or a coalition of voting rights groups' voter protection hotlines. The coalition's helpline in English is 866-OUR-VOTE (687-8683). Helpline phone numbers in other languages ​​can be found here.

How do I get accessibility or language adjustments?

In addition to the option of voting by post, a voter with a disability can have a person of their choice assist them in casting their vote at a voting center. In Texas, a voter with a disability is a voter with a “medical condition or physical condition” that prevents them from voting in person without the likelihood of “requiring personal assistance or being detrimental to the voter’s health.” A voter does not have to prove their disability to election officials or employees and cannot be turned away.

All polling places in Texas must meet accessibility standards, including entrances and exits at least 32 inches wide and accessible curbs and stairs. Each location typically has at least one type of accessible voting equipment to accommodate voters. However, you may want to check this.

Voters who cannot enter a polling station can also request to vote curbside. This must be available at every polling place for voters with disabilities who cannot enter a polling place.

If a voter has a mobility issue that significantly limits their ability to move or walk, the voter may request priority voting in person and skip the line at the polls. If they have an assistant, they can also skip the line at the voter's request.

Voters can choose a person to help them interpret and fill out their ballot at the polls. This can be a family member, friend or other person, as long as the person is not the voter's employer or a representative of their union.

A voter can also be assisted by election workers. If a voter needs sign language interpretation and does not have a person of their choice who can help them, it is advisable to call poll workers in advance and ask for help.

Read more about Texas Department of State support and accommodations here.

What rules apply to elections?

Typically, traffic cones or markers are placed 100 feet from the entrance to a polling place. That's because cell phones, cameras, computers and other devices that can record sound or images are not allowed to be used within 30 meters of polling stations (where ballot papers are marked). Election officials may require voters to deactivate their phones once they are at the polling station.

Campaigning is also prohibited within those 100 feet, meaning voters are not allowed to wear clothing or other items that draw attention to candidates, political parties or measures on the ballot. Items that publicize previous candidates and measures not currently on the ballot are fine.

Texas law also prohibits firearms, including handguns, in polling places.

Voters are permitted to use written notes when casting their ballot at the discretion of election officials, who may determine whether the material is considered electioneering.

What's on the ballot?

Not sure what's on your ballot? You can use our search tool to view your state and federal elections. You can also get a sample ballot from your county.

If you're interested in learning more about candidates, you can visit vote411.org to see if any of your candidates have responded to the League of Women Voters' candidate questionnaires. This includes information on candidates for statewide elections for President, U.S. Senator, Railroad Commissioner, and members of the Texas Supreme Court and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.

Where do I go to vote?

Early voting allows voters to cast their ballot 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 related to your address (county). This can be found on your voter registration certificate or by verifying your registration online.

For a list of counties where voters can vote at any county polling place on Election Day, visit the Texas Secretary of State's Office.

Check your county elections website for early voting times and locations, as well as Election Day locations. You can find it here. You can also use the Secretary of State's website to view polling locations, but your county's information will be the most current.

You may want to call poll workers, especially on Election Day, to make sure the polling locations haven't changed at the last minute. Polls will be open on Election Day, November 5th, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Do you need a ride to the polls? Ride-hailing companies Uber and Lyft are offering discounts of 50% (or up to $10) on Election Day. To receive the discount, voters can use Uber’s in-app “Go Vote” feature or preload the code “VOTE24” in Lyft’s app. Read more details from Uber and Lyft.

If you vote by mail in the United States, your ballot must be postmarked by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day and received in your county by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday to be counted. For more information about photo ID, registration requirements and mail-in ballots, see our voter guide here.

What do I need to vote?

To vote in Texas, you must have one of seven valid photo IDs:

• A state driver's license issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety.
• A Texas voter ID card issued by DPS.
• A Texas ID card issued by DPS.
• A Texas license to carry a handgun issued by DPS.
• A US military ID card with a personal photo.
• A US citizenship certificate with a personal photo.
• A US passport.

If you do not have an approved photo ID, you can still vote by signing a “reasonable prevention” form and providing valid identification documents such as a birth certificate, your voter registration certificate, or a recent utility bill with your name and address.

If you use a state ID card or driver's license, the address listed there does not have to be the same as your current address. And if you forget your ID, you can cast a provisional vote, which can only be counted if you provide the required photo ID or documents within six days.

What happens if my voter registration is “pending”?

If your voter registration shows as “pending,” it usually means officials are unsure of your address. However, you may still be able to vote by completing a “certificate of residence” at the polls. If you have moved and have not updated your address by the October 7 voter registration deadline, you may be able to vote at your previous polling place if it is in the same county or political subdivision, or to vote on a limited ballot.

Limited voting includes only statewide elections and federal elections for President and U.S. Senator from Texas. Unless you qualify for absentee voting, a limited ballot can only be cast in person during early voting at the primary early voting location, which is typically the office of the elections official or county clerk who conducts elections in your county . Contact the election office in your county to request a limited ballot.

Can I vote in person if I have requested an absentee ballot?

The short answer is yes if you are in Texas and the county where you are registered to vote. The process will be more efficient if you bring your mail-in ballot to the polling place so you can drop it off before voting. If you don't have your ballot or never received it, you can still cast a provisional vote. Your vote will be counted once the county determines that it never received your mail-in ballot.

Voters who wanted to vote by mail because of an illness or disability may also qualify for curbside or emergency voting.

To request an emergency election, you must designate a representative to personally file an application on your behalf and have a certified medical certificate. The request must be received by your county's early voting agent before 5:00 p.m. on Election Day and your ballot must be returned by the same designated agent before 7:00 p.m. on Election Day in order to be counted.

Contact your county elections office to learn more about curbside voting and emergency voting.