It’s Election Day, if you haven’t already taken advantage of early voting, here’s all you need to know about how you can still vote.
What if I mailed my ballot in?
With the period of early voting now over, voters must be aware that the time to register to vote as well as apply for a mail-in ballot are now also over. Voters who opted to mail in their vote must have their ballot delivered by 7 pm today if the envelope isn’t postmarked; if it is postmarked for Election Day, than it will be valid so long as it arrives to the proper country by 5 pm on Wednesday, November 9.
When will the polls be open on Election Day in Houston?
Voting centers in Houston will be open from 7 am to 7 pm on Election Day, Tuesday, November 5.
How do I check my ballot status?
Voters can check the status of their ballot on the Texas Secretary of State website.
Is there a specific place I need to vote in Houston?
It depends. First, we recommend checking the Countywide Polling Place Program (CWWP) aka Vote Centers to discern whether or not you can vote in any location within your county.
For those living in counties that are not a part of the program must vote in their specific precincts within the county. You can find your specific voting precinct via My Voter Portal here.
What do I need to bring?
You will need photo ID. Acceptable forms of identification include:
- Texas Driver’s License – issued by DPS
- DPS-issued Texas Election Identification Certificate
- United States Passport
- DPS-issued Texas Personal Identification Card
- United States Military Identification Card that includes voter’s photograph
- United States Citizenship Certificate that includes voter’s photograph
- DPS-issued Texas Handgun License
Note: if ID forms are expired for voters aged 18-69, ID is still acceptable if expired for a time period of less than four years. That is unless voters the age of 70 or older, in which case expiration doesn’t apply so long as the ID is valid.
What if my ID is expired?
If you’re in possession of one of the seven acceptable forms of ID but it’s expired, you can still vote so long as the ID hasn’t been expired for over 4 years. The ID can be expired for any amount of time for those voters aged 70 or older.
What if I don’t have an ID?
If you’re not in possession of one of seven of the aforementioned forms of photo ID, you can fill out the Reasonable Impediment Declaration (RID)at the polls when providing an alternative ID form, such as copies or originals of the following:
- government check
- government document showcasing name and address of vote, along with their voter’s registration certificate
- bank statement
- utility bill
- paycheck
- certified domestic birth certificate
What if I have an ID but forget it?
Those in possession of one of the seven accepted forms of ID can either choose to go home, collect it and return to the voting venue, or as stated on the government website, have six days to provide the accepted form of ID to the county voter registrar or complete the natural disaster affidavit. If either of these processes are not completed the voter’s ballot will not be counted.
See also: Election Day specials to enjoy in Houston with your “I Voted” sticker