Vote By Mail
Vote by Mail:
What You Need
to Know.
Your complete guide to the Texas mail ballot process.
Texas has specific rules for who can vote by mail and how. The application deadline for the November 3 general election is October 23. Use the menu below to jump to what you need.
Can you vote by mail?
Texas does not have universal mail voting. You must meet at least one of these criteria to request a mail ballot.
Any registered voter who is 65 years of age or older on Election Day.
If a sickness or disability prevents you from voting in person without personal assistance or risk of injury to your health.
If you will be outside your county of residence during the entire early voting period and on Election Day.
If you expect to give birth within three weeks before or after Election Day.
If you are in jail but are otherwise eligible to vote (i.e. not convicted of a felony).
If you are civilly committed under Chapter 841 of the Texas Health and Safety Code.
Not sure if you qualify? Contact your county election office or visit VoteTexas.gov. Simply preferring to vote at home is not sufficient under current Texas law.
How to apply.
There are three stages: apply for your ballot, fill it out correctly, and return it on time. Start with applying.
Apply by October 23. You can't just show up and vote by mail. You have to request a ballot first, and the easiest way is online at VoteTexas.gov.
See the full application details
Ways to get and submit an application:
- Apply online at VoteTexas.gov
- Call your County Election Office and ask them to mail you one
- Submit by mail, email, fax, or common carrier, all are accepted
- Print and mail it yourself (English or Spanish)
You need to give one ID number: your Texas Driver's License, Texas Personal ID, or Texas Election ID Certificate number (the one issued by DPS, not your voter registration VUID number), or the last 4 digits of your SSN. Just one, not both. If you have neither, check the box on the form that says so.
You'll also provide your phone or email, the mailing address for your ballot, your reason for voting by mail, and your signature (or a witness section if you can't sign).
Your ballot arrives in the mail. Fill it out in black or blue pen, seal it in the ballot envelope, then seal that inside the carrier envelope and sign the flap.
See the full step-by-step
Marking the ballot:
- Use a black or blue pen
- Fill in ovals completely, no X's, checkmarks, or circles
- Put the ballot in the ballot envelope and seal it, one ballot per envelope
On the carrier envelope (the outer one):
- Write your TX Driver's License or Personal ID number and the last 4 of your SSN
- Add your phone number and/or email
- Seal it, then sign over the flap
The safest way is to hand-deliver it to your county elections office on Election Day (November 3), 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with a photo ID. No postmark to worry about. If you mail it, it must be postmarked by 7 p.m. November 3 and received by 5 p.m. November 4.
See all your return options
You can return your ballot by:
- Hand delivery to your main County Election Office on Election Day while polls are open (photo ID required). Mail ballots cannot be dropped at early voting locations.
- Mail via USPS, FedEx, UPS, or DHL, postmarked before 7 p.m. November 3.
Something went wrong?
Applied but no ballot? Got a rejection notice? You have more options than you think, and most problems can be fixed.
The Texas Ballot by Mail Tracker shows whether your application or ballot was flagged, and often lets you fix the problem right there online. Correction deadlines: October 23 for an application issue, November 9 for a rejected ballot.
You can still vote with a provisional ballot at a polling place. The county checks that no mail ballot was returned in your name, and if that's confirmed, your provisional ballot counts. This is the safety net built for exactly this situation.
- Early voting (Oct 19 to 30): any early voting location in your county, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Election Day (Nov 3): your assigned polling place or any countywide vote center, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- If the unvoted mail ballot shows up, bring it. You can surrender it and vote a regular ballot instead.
Many mail voters are elderly, disabled, or sick, which is exactly why they applied. If reaching any polling place isn't possible, ask your county elections office about curbside voting or an emergency ballot. Find your county elections office →
Good to know.
A few things that come up often about the mail ballot process in Texas.
Do I have to apply every election?
Yes, you must apply for a mail ballot for every election. However, if you are 65 or older or disabled, you can check "Annual Application" to receive ballots for all elections in that calendar year. Texas law no longer automatically sends ballots year after year after the first application.
Where will my ballot be mailed?
Generally, your ballot is mailed to your registered address. If you are 65 or older or have a physical disability, it can be sent to a hospital, nursing home, long-term care facility, retirement center, or a relative, but you must indicate which on the form. If your reason for voting by mail is absence from the county, the ballot must be mailed to an address outside your county.
Can I change my mind and vote in person instead?
Yes. Bring your mail ballot and carrier envelope to a polling place and you'll be allowed to vote a regular ballot after surrendering the mail materials. If you can't bring them, you may vote a provisional ballot.
What if I'm in the military or living overseas?
Military and overseas voters use a different process, the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA), which covers both registration and the ballot request in one form. Visit VoteTexas.gov for the full guide.
Is Midterms Matter telling me who to vote for?
Never. Midterms Matter is a nonpartisan civic education initiative. We don't support or oppose any candidate, party, or political position. This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
Ready to apply?
The application deadline is October 23, and it's a received-by deadline, not a postmark. Apply now and leave plenty of time for your ballot to arrive and be returned.