Midterms Matter is a nonpartisan civic education initiative focused on the 2026 Texas general election on November 3. We help Texans understand what's on the ballot, when key dates fall, and how to participate, using clear, accurate, publicly available information.

We don't endorse candidates, political parties, or positions on any issue. No ads. No persuasion. Just facts, tools, and trusted messengers. Learn more about our team.

Yes, same mission, new moment. March Matters and May Matters were our civic education campaigns for the Texas primary and runoff earlier in 2026. Now that those are behind us, we've shifted focus to the November 3 general election, the one that decides who actually holds office.

The URL (marchmatters.org) stays the same. The team is the same. The commitment to nonpartisan, plain-English voter education is the same. We just updated the name to reflect the new election. Think of Midterms Matter as the next chapter of the same story.

Midterms Matter is led by In Good Company, a civic impact organization based in Austin, Texas, in partnership with Texas Impact Education Fund. The campaign is funded and operated entirely as a nonpartisan civic education initiative, no political donors, no candidate funding, no party affiliation.

Meet the team →

Three things guide everything we do:

• Nonpartisanship. We don't support or oppose any candidate, party, or political position. Ever.
• Accuracy. All information comes from official election authorities and is reviewed regularly.
• Respect for individual choice. Participation is always voluntary. We help people get informed, we never tell anyone how to vote.

No. Midterms Matter is strictly nonpartisan. We don't take positions on candidates, parties, or policy issues. Our only goal is more Texans showing up informed and prepared for the November 3 election. Partners across the political spectrum trust us because we earn that trust with every piece of content we produce.

The general election is the final matchup of the cycle. After the March primary and the May runoff narrowed each party's field, the November 3 election is where voters choose who actually takes office, from U.S. Senate down to county judge.

Unlike the primary, there's no party ballot to pick. Every registered voter gets the same general-election ballot for their area, with the party nominees, independents, and any qualified third-party candidates running for each office. See how Texas elections work →

This is the election that decides real things, who represents your community, who makes decisions about your schools, roads, healthcare, and economy. The general election fills the offices, not just the nominations.

And there's a lot on the line in 2026: the governor, a U.S. Senate seat, all 38 U.S. House seats, and every statewide office, plus the legislative, district, and county races for your address. Midterm turnout is consistently lower than presidential years, which means the people who show up have an outsized say. Why this election matters →

• October 5: Last day to register to vote
• October 23: Last day to apply for a mail ballot (must be received by this date)
• October 19–30: Early voting window
• November 3: General Election Day, polls open 7am to 7pm

Verify your registration and find your polling place at VoteTexas.gov.

No. The general election is not a primary. Every registered voter gets the same ballot for their area, and you vote for whichever candidates you choose in each race, regardless of party. It doesn't matter whether you voted in the March primary or the May runoff, or whether you sat them out entirely.

All you need is to be registered by October 5. Check your status at VoteTexas.gov.

Yes. The general election is open to every registered Texas voter. Voting (or not voting) in the earlier primary or runoff has no effect on your eligibility in November. You just need to be registered by October 5. Check your status at VoteTexas.gov.

Texas holds several types of elections, primaries, runoffs, general elections, and special elections. They each serve a different purpose in determining who holds public office.

The primary (March) narrows the field within each party. The runoff (May) settles primary races when no one gets a majority. The general election (November) is the final matchup between the party nominees and any other qualified candidates, and it's the one that fills the office. See all types of Texas elections →

Check your status at VoteTexas.gov, it takes about 30 seconds. You'll need your name, date of birth, and county. The registration deadline for the November 3 election is October 5. See our 5 Steps to Get Ready →

You'll need a valid photo ID and to know your polling place. Polls are open 7am–7pm on November 3. Early voting runs October 19–30 if you'd rather skip Election Day lines.

Find your polling place and check wait times at VoteTexas.gov. Full guide: Vote in Person →

Texas has specific eligibility requirements for voting by mail. You may qualify if you are 65 or older, have a disability or illness, will be away from your county on Election Day and during early voting, are expecting to give birth within three weeks before or after Election Day, or are confined in jail but otherwise eligible.

Applications must be received (not just postmarked) by October 23. Full guide: Vote by Mail →

Possibly, it depends on when and where you moved. Texas has specific rules for voters who have recently changed addresses, and in some cases you may be able to cast a limited ballot.

Full guide: Vote if Recently Moved →

Start with the official Texas Secretary of State sample ballot to see exactly who's on your ballot. From there, nonpartisan resources like VOTE411 aggregate candidate responses without endorsing anyone.

Not all voting guides are created equal, some are educational, some are advocacy in disguise. Learn how to read a voting guide →

The easiest way is to grab the free toolkit and share it through your existing channels, newsletters, emails, social posts, bulletin boards, whatever you already use to communicate with your community. No political experience needed.

Get the Toolkit → | Partner with Us →

Yes, and many employers already do. Sharing nonpartisan information about how to vote, key dates, and where to find official resources is widely recognized as a legitimate civic benefit. It's not political advocacy.

Midterms Matter content is designed to fit within standard HR and communications guardrails. We don't tell anyone how to vote, we don't endorse candidates, and we don't collect any voting data from your employees. Resources for workplaces →

Yes. Nonpartisan civic education, sharing dates, explaining how elections work, helping people access official resources, is appropriate for faith communities and consistent with most organizations' guidelines around civic engagement.

Midterms Matter never takes positions on candidates, parties, or policy issues, so there's no risk of running afoul of IRS guidelines on political activity for 501(c)(3) organizations. Resources for faith communities →

Yes. Nonpartisan voter education is explicitly permitted for 501(c)(3) organizations. Midterms Matter is designed with that in mind, we stay squarely in education, never advocacy. Sharing key dates, explaining how the election works, and directing people to official resources all fall well within what nonprofits can do.

We always recommend nonprofits consult their own legal counsel when needed, but we're confident our content is built for safe, appropriate sharing. Resources for nonprofits →

Chambers and associations are a natural fit. Your members look to you for information that helps them operate and participate in civic life. Sharing nonpartisan election education is a practical extension of the work you already do.

Midterms Matter gives you ready-to-use content so you're not starting from scratch. Resources for chambers and associations →

No. Midterms Matter does not collect, store, or share personal voter data, voting choices, or ballot selections from anyone in your community. We don't track individuals or report back on how specific people engage with the content. Any basic engagement data we collect is aggregated, nonpartisan, and used only for program improvement.

Stick to Midterms Matter resources and official sources like VoteTexas.gov and the Texas Secretary of State. All Midterms Matter content is sourced from official election authorities and reviewed for accuracy.

When in doubt about a voting guide or third-party resource, our page on how to read a voting guide can help you evaluate what you're looking at before you share it.

The best defense is knowing your official sources. For anything related to registration, polling places, or voting rules, go directly to VoteTexas.gov or your county election office. If something you see on social media contradicts those official sources, trust the official sources.

Watch out for urgent-sounding messages that create confusion about dates, eligibility, or polling places, that's a common pattern for election misinformation. How to evaluate voting guides and resources →

Ask three questions: Who made it? Why does it exist? Does it treat all candidates and sides equally? Guides that don't answer those questions clearly should be approached with caution.

Red flags include endorsement language, missing candidates, and emotionally charged descriptions. Green flags include sourced citations, clear methodology, and equal treatment of all candidates. Full guide: How to read a voting guide →

Start here:

• VoteTexas.gov, for registration, polling places, and mail ballot info
• Texas Secretary of State, for election law, sample ballots, and the official calendar
• VOTE411 by the League of Women Voters, for nonpartisan candidate information

See all additional resources →