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If you are eligible, apply now to vote at home and stay safe!

Who can vote by mail in Texas?

65 years or older

Sick or disabled

Out of the county during early voting and election day

In jail but otherwise eligible to vote

The Election Code defines disability as “a sickness or physical condition that prevents the voter from appearing at the polling place on election day without a likelihood of needing personal assistance or of injuring the voter’s health.” Texas Secretary of State

A voter can take into consideration aspects of their health and their health history that are physical conditions in deciding whether, under the circumstances, to apply to vote by mail because of disability.” The elections office has no legal authority to require voters verify their disability to apply for ballot by mail. The Texas Supreme Court

An explanation of the vote by mail process is in the video below including:

Who can vote by mail

Who qualifies for sick or disabled and who may be at higher risk

How to apply

Tips for filling out your application

Application due dates

Ballot arrival dates

Ballot packet information

Tips on filling out your ballot

Mailing your ballot

Getting help

How to obtain an application to vote by mail:

Print an application, contact your county election official for an application, or request an application from the secretary of state’s office.

Fill out, sign, and mail to your Early Voting Clerk, county clerk or election administrator in the county where you are registered to vote.

Applications must be received (not postmarked) by Friday, October 23, 2020, for the General Election.

Fill out the vote by mail application once a year if the voter

Is 65 years or older

Is sick or disabled

Checks the annual application

Fill out the vote by mail application for each election if the voter

will be out of the county during early voting and election day. This includes students living away at school.

is in jail

Tips for filling out the application

If you check “Disabled” – DO NOT WRITE IN YOUR DISABILITY.

Avoid any confusion by election officials and sign both your application and ballot in the same way.

Have a ballot mailed to the address where you actually are.

Include your contact information in case there is a problem with your application.

Mark the annual box for voters 65 years of age or older and voters with a disability.

Mark the election you will be voting in. If it is the Primary Election then check the Democratic Primary or the Republican Primary. Check the “any resulting runoff” to automatically receive a ballot.

Students living away at school check “address outside the county” box.

Write the dates you are out of the county where you are registered. For example, dates away at school.

When will I receive my ballot?

Ballots are mailed out 45 days before an election or 7 days after the county election office receives an application.

How do I fill out my ballot?

Use a blue or black pen, not a pencil.

Research your candidates with the League’s nonpartisan Voters Guide at VOTE411.org.

at VOTE411.org. Sign the ballot and the envelope with the same signature you used on your application.

Some ballots may need two stamps. (Travis County ballots are returned in prepaid postage envelopes, so no stamps are required. Williamson County: TBD.)

When does my vote by mail ballot need to be at my county election office?

The vote by mail ballot must be at the county election office on election day.

Voters who mail in their ballot should allow plenty of time for the ballot to arrive at the county election office by election day.

Governor Abbot’s proclamation extending early voting, allows a voter to deliver a marked ballot in person to the county election office during early voting and on election day while polls are open. In-person delivery for a marked ballot requires a presentation of the person’s ID. Some counties offer ballot boxes for drop off. For more information: Texas Secretary of State

What if I later decide to vote in person?

Take your unmarked ballot with you to the polling station and turn in to the voting clerk. They will instruct you from there.

If you lose, or forget, your ballot you can still cast a ballot at the polling station. You will be allowed to vote a provisional ballot.

What if I become disabled or ill on or after the deadline to request a vote by mail ballot?

Contact your county election office for details to request a late ballot. It requires an assistant committed to two round-trips to the election office, as well as a physician-signed certification of your illness or disability.

Curbside voting is available to voters who are sick or are physically unable to enter the polling place. Voters may ask that an election officer bring a ballot to their car.

New procedure for returning mail-in ballots in Travis County

Beginning October 1, Travis County voters will be able to personally hand deliver their own mail-in ballots!

Drive-through locations: 5501 Airport Blvd – Tax Office drive through payment lanes

700 Lavaca Garage via Guadalupe entrance

700 Lavaca Garage via Lavaca entrance

1010 Lavaca Parking Lot via W. 11 St. between Guadalupe and Lavaca Dates: October 1 – 12: 8 AM – 5 PM, Monday-Friday

October 13 – November 1: 7 AM – 7 PM, Monday-Saturday, 12 – 6 PM, Sunday

November 2: 8 AM – 5 PM

November 3: 7 AM – 7 PM The requirements for hand delivery of mail-in ballots are as follows: You may only hand deliver your own carrier envelope.

You will be asked to present an acceptable form of ID.

You will be asked to sign a signature roster.

Then you will deposit your mail-in ballot into a ballot box.

Under Texas law, ballots may only be hand delivered to locations where the County Clerk conducts regular business. The locations specified above are the locations where we conduct regular business.

Important to Note: Texas State Election Law does not allow for drop-boxes and mail-in ballots should not be dropped off into any drop-box. This is not an option in Texas and your ballot will not be counted if it is dropped off this way. It must either be mailed back or hand delivered to one of these three locations. (Texas Election Code 86.006).

Other mail-in ballot resources

Info about voting by mail for Travis County residents. – Travis County Application for Ballot by Mail.

Info about voting by mail for Williamson County residents. – Williamson County Application for Ballot by Mail.

Start here for mail-in ballot information for Texas counties other than Travis.

Additional voting information.