Texas voter registration deadline is Oct. 5 for Nov. 3 election

With the Nov. 5 general election on the horizon, Texas residents have until Oct. 5 to ensure they are fully registered to participate in deciding the state’s next governor, senator and other statewide elected officials. 

The Oct. 5 deadline stands as residents’ last opportunity to register to vote or submit an address or name change in time for the midterm elections. Registering to vote in Texas must be completed through a paper voter registration – residents cannot register through an online portal. All applications must be postmarked by Oct. 5 to be valid. Voters may request the postmark from their local post offices to avoid delays caused by mailbox pickup. 

Users may print out the online application and mail it to their county’s voter registrar. Alternatively, residents can request a postage-paid application by mail, although this option should be done well ahead of time to account for the postage system’s travel time. Voters may also find the application available at county voter registrars’ offices as well as some post offices, government offices and schools. 

In some cases, Texas residents can complete voter registration through the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) while renewing their driver’s licenses. However, officials have noted a backlog of registrations when applied through the DPS system. 

Voters should receive a voter registration certificate within 30 days of registration containing all voter information. If any information is incorrect, residents should send corrections to their local voter registrar. 

Notably, the state purged more than 1.2 voter registrations from the records in late August, leaving thousands of residents ineligible to vote until they re-register. Users can verify their voter registration status through the Texas Secretary of State’s personal voter portal. 

Information needed to complete voter registration verification can be provided in any of the three following combinations: 

• Texas driver’s license number and date of birth. 
• First and last names, date of birth and county of residence. 
• Date of birth and Voter Unique Identifier (VUID), which is available on residents’ voter registration certificates. 

Residents are only able to vote in the county they are currently registered to vote in. If an individual has moved to a new voting district or changed their name since the last election, they will need to update their information before Oct. 5. The update can also be performed through the Texas Secretary of State’s voter name and address changes webpage. 

Users must provide the following information to change their name and/or address: 

• Driver’s license or ID card. 
• Social Security number. 
• Voter registration card VUID. 

If a resident moves after the voter registration deadline passes, they may be able to vote via absentee voting in the upcoming election. Certain qualifying individuals may qualify for mail-in voting. Mail-in voters must apply for consideration by Oct. 23. Residents must meet one or more of the following criteria to qualify for vote-by-mail: 

• Must be 65 or older by Election Day. 
• Must be out-of-county for the entire voting period, including early voting. 
• Must have a sickness or disability preventing them from voting in person without requiring personal assistance or risking their well-being. 
• Must expect to give birth within three weeks before or after Election Day. 
• Must be confined in jail but otherwise eligible. 

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