Emgage Texas Focus

Emgage  Texas is focused on empowering and mobilizing the Muslim community, particularly in the Austin, Dallas, and Houston metro areas.
We are dedicated to protecting voting rights and combating voter suppression. We run active voter registration, training, and educational campaigns. Our Emerging Leaders program is a longstanding tradition of the Texas chapter, in which teenagers and young adults are empowered and trained in leadership skills. We will shortly join other Emgage state chapters by launching a Muslim Civic Table in Texas which will bring together nonprofits, community advocates, and leaders from across the state to advance equality, justice, and opportunity in our community.
Texas is our home and we are dedicated to making everyone here feel seen, heard, equal, and welcome.

Voting Information

2024 Election Information

Early voting in the 2024 Primary Elections is around the corner! Make sure you are registered to vote at your current address by Monday, February 5, 2024.

Other dates to know:

First Day of Early Voting: Tuesday, February 20, 2024
Last Day to Have Ballot by Mail Application Received: Friday, February 23, 2024

Last Day of Early Voting: Friday, March 1, 2024

Election Day: Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Last day to have Ballot by Mail Received: March 5, 2024

The voter registration form can be found here.

Not sure if you are registered? Need to change your address? Want to track a mail-in ballot? Click here.

Not sure what county you are in? Click here.

A list of county voter registration officials can be found here.

County Voting information

  • Click here for voting information for Harris County
  • Click here for voting information for Fort Bend County
  • Click here for voting information for Dallas
  • Click here for voting information for Travis County

Special Circumstances

Some voters have special circumstances, such as being overseas, being a convicted felon, being a student, and more. For more information about your voting rights and for FAQs, click here.

More questions? Email us at txvotes@emgageusa.org

Texas 2024 Primary Voting FAQs

Texas 2024 Primary Voting FAQs

In this section, we have discussed the  following:

  • Primary FAQs 
  • Voting by Mail FAQs 
  • Voting In-Person FAQs 
  • Selected Texas Counties polling location lookup, sample ballot, and elections office information.

Emgage Texas has collected some of the most common questions asked about voting in the primaries and provided you with answers. Early voting begins Tuesday, February 20. Election Day is Tuesday, March 5, 2024. We look forward to seeing you at the polls!

If you have any questions about this document, contact Aisha Tariq at aishtariq@emgageusa.org or Niloufar Hafizi at nhafizi@emgageusa.org.

 

Primary FAQs

What is different about voting in a primary versus voting in a general election?

Primary elections are held by the two major political parties to select the party’s nominees for state, federal, and many local elected offices. When you vote in a primary, you must request to vote on the Democratic or Republican ballot. You are not choosing between candidates of different parties; you are choosing among candidates of the same party to determine who will be the party’s nominated candidate for each elected position. Later in the year, the candidates selected in the primary will run against each other in the general election.

Can I vote for Democratic candidates for some positions and Republican candidates for other positions?

No. You must select one party’s primary election to vote in, which means you can only vote on the candidates for that party.

I am voting in person. How do I select the primary race I would like to vote in?

When you go to vote in person, you will be asked whether you are voting in the Democratic or Republican primary. This is completely normal and necessary for the primaries! You will be directed about where to vote for the Republican candidates if you are voting in the Republican primary, or the Democratic candidates if you are voting in the Democratic primary.

Can I vote “uncommitted” for any positions?

It depends on which primary you are voting in. In Texas, the Democratic primary ballot does not have an option to vote “uncommitted” for any race. The Republican ballot has an option to vote “uncommitted” among the presidential options. For other races, there is no option to vote “uncommitted.”

If I initially ask for the wrong ballot when I go to vote, can I change which primary I am voting in?

If you did not select the correct ballot (Republican or Democratic), notify an election worker BEFORE you complete the voting process for help changing which ballot you are voting on. If you have already cast your vote, you will not be able to change it or vote in the other primary afterward.

I do not want to be a member of either the Republican or Democratic Party. Can I vote in the primary?

You do not need to be a member of either political party to vote in the primaries. Texas has what is called open primaries, which means that you do not need to be a registered member of a party to vote in that party’s primary. All you are committing to when you vote in, for example, the Republican primary is that you will not vote in the other party’s primary elections or primary runoff elections. Additionally, once you vote in one party’s primary you cannot seek to be a party delegate for the other party at their conventions. 

When you go to vote, you will be asked to agree to a statement of affiliation and to verify you understand that you cannot participate in the other party’s primary or convention. This is required for primary voting; it is not a party registration and does not mean you are a member of that party.

Example: Sarah votes in the Democratic primary in March. She cannot now decide to vote in the Republican primary in the primary runoff elections in May. Additionally, she cannot be eligible to serve as a delegate to the county, state, or national Republican convention, should she want to.

Sarah can, however, vote for whichever party she chooses after the primary elections are over.

I want to vote for a third party in November. Can I still vote in the primaries?

Yes! You can vote in the primaries for one party and then vote for a different party after the primaries are over.

Ex: Majid identifies as an independent. He voted in the Republican primaries and runoff to have a say in which candidates were chosen for the Republican nomination. For the general election in November, he would like to vote for third party candidates. This is allowed; in non-primary elections, he may vote for candidates of any party he chooses.

I haven’t registered to vote yet. Can I register to vote at the polling location?

No. You must be registered to vote thirty (30) days before an election you want to vote in. This primary is on March 5, 2024, so the last day to register was February 5, 2024. You can, however, register to vote after February 5 in order to be able to vote in future elections, including the May primary runoffs.

Voting by Mail FAQs

Applications to Vote By Mail

How do I qualify to vote by mail?

In Texas, you have to meet certain requirements to be able to vote by mail. To qualify for voting by mail, one of the following must apply to you:

  • 65 or older by Election Day;
  • Have a disability;
  • Be out of the county during the entire in-person voting period (early voting and Election Day)
  • Be confined in jail (but still eligible)
  • Be expecting to give birth within three weeks of Election Day (before or after)

When do I need to have my application to vote by mail turned in?

The last day to have your application for voting by mail (also called absentee voting/absentee ballot) received by the elections authority of your county is Friday, February 23, 2024. Once your application is processed, you will receive your actual ballot by mail. Due to the risk of mail delays or the possibility of needing to correct your application, we strongly recommend having your application sent in earlier. Our recommended date was Friday, February 9.

Can I use an electronic signature on my mail-in ballot application? 

No! Your signature must be handwritten.

Can I turn in my ballot application in person? 

Yes! You can mail in your application or you can turn it in to your county’s election administrator. Check the locations for select counties at the bottom of this page.

Can I turn in an application for someone else? 

  1. You, the voter, must turn in your mail-in ballot application. You may not turn in an application (or ballot) for anyone else, not even a spouse or other family member.

Can I fax or email my mail-in ballot application?

You may fax or email your application to your county elections administrator, but you must also provide a physical copy for your application to be valid. You must mail in your physical application or hand in your physical application at the elections office within four (4) days of faxing or emailing it.

If I have voted by mail before, do I still need to apply to vote by mail this election?

You still need to apply, yes! You must apply to vote by mail for each election. If you qualify to vote by mail because you are 65 or older, you can apply on an annual basis and receive mail-in ballots for one election year. Otherwise, you must apply for each election. Make sure to apply for the primary and the primary runoff election when you fill out your application!

Mail-in ballot/Other voting by mail questions

I do not know if my mail-in ballot or application was received. Can I track them?

Yes! Texas has statewide ballot tracking available here.

Harris County voters can track their ballot here.

I applied to vote by mail but never received my ballot. Can I go vote in person on Election Day?

You can vote in person at your assigned precinct location if you already requested a mail-in ballot, but you will need to 1) surrender your mail-in ballot and 2) cancel your mail-in ballot application. You can cancel your application by faxing or emailing a cancellation statement with your handwritten signature to your county elections office. You can also fill out a cancellation form when you vote in person. The statement must contain:

  • Name
  • Registered Address
  • Number used to prove your identity on your mail-in ballot application [Voter ID Number, Texas Driver’s License Number, and/or last four digits of Social Security Number]
  • Statement of Action (That you wish to cancel your mail-in ballot application and why)
  • Handwritten signature

Check your local elections office to see if there is a special address or fax number for canceling mail-in ballots.

Additionally, if you do not have your mail-in ballot to surrender, when you go to vote in person you will be asked to fill an affidavit verifying that you do not intend to vote by mail. You will also be asked to vote provisionally instead of on a regular ballot. (This is so that the elections office can verify your mail-in ballot will not be counted).

I have not mailed in my ballot yet. What can I do to submit my ballot?

You may submit your ballot to your county elections office or other designated location (NOT at a voting site) during voting hours on Election Day.

You may also mail in your ballot to your county elections office, but it must be either 1) received by 7 PM on Election Day, March 1; OR 2) Received by 5 PM the day after Election Day IF there is a postmark showing it was mailed by 7 PM on Election Day. 

Who can turn in my mail-in ballot in person? Do I need a photo ID to turn in my mail-in ballot?

You alone can turn in your mail-in ballot in-person to your county’s location, as designated by the elections office. No one, including close family members or members of your household, can submit your ballot for you. At the designated mail-in ballot submission location, you will need to show one of the seven forms of acceptable photo identification listed below that are also required for voting in-person.

Please note that while the designated location for turning in mail-in ballots in person can be your county’s main elections office, it also may not be. We highly recommend contacting your county’s election office to check first. Mail-in ballots are typically only accepted on Election Day during voting hours.

On March 5, 2024, the mail-in ballot drop-off location for Harris County is the main county elections location in downtown Houston at the Harris County Administration Building, 4th floor, at 1001 Preston Street Houston, TX 77002.

On March 5, 2024, the mail-in ballot drop-off location for Fort Bend County is 4520 Reading Road, Rosenberg, TX 77471.

Can I drop off my mail-in ballot in a dropbox?

No. Dropboxes have been banned in Texas.

Voting In-Person FAQs

I haven’t received my updated voter certificate yet. Do I need my voter certificate to vote?

No, you do not need your voter registration certificate to vote. It can be helpful to have but is not required. You must bring one of seven acceptable forms of photo ID in Texas:

  1. Texas Driver’s License
  2. Texas Election Identification Certificate containing your photograph issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (different from your voter registration certificate)
  3. Texas Personal Identification Card containing your photograph issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety 
  4. U.S. Citizenship Certificate containing your photograph
  5. Texas Handgun License
  6. U.S. Military ID Card containing your photograph
  7. U.S. Passport

Please note that a student ID is not an accepted form of identification for voting in Texas.

Can I vote if I do not have an ID?

If you do not possess an acceptable form of ID at all, you should still be able to vote. You must provide supporting documentation such as a current utility bill, paycheck, bank statement, or other government document showing your name and that you live at your current address. You also will have to sign a sworn statement that there was a reasonable barrier to your getting one of the seven acceptable forms of ID.

If you have an ID and just forgot to bring it to the polling place, however, you will need to go get your ID to vote. 

What can I do if my name is not found on the list of registered voters?

If you are not allowed to vote for a reason relating to your registration, ask for a provisional ballot. You can cast your provisional ballot, and then you will need to visit your county elections office within six (6) days of the election with a photo ID to show that you can vote at your current address. 

If you do not provide your photo ID and any other supporting documentation at your county elections office within six calendar days of the election, your vote will not be counted.

I need to vote from my car. Do I have any options for that?

If you have mobility difficulties or cannot enter the polling place for other reasons, you can vote from your car using curbside voting. Each polling place should have spaces designated for curbside voters and a call button or displayed phone number to let the election workers know you have arrived. Pull into the designated space and press the call button, or call the polling place if you do not see one. An election worker will bring a mobile voting device to your vehicle for you to vote.

To expedite the process, call ahead to the polling location to let them know you are coming and need curbside voting.

Please note that drive-thru voting is no longer an option anywhere in Texas.

Can I vote anywhere in my county?

Many Texas counties allow you to vote anywhere in the county during Early Voting or on Election Day, but you should call or check your county elections offices’ website to be certain. Find a list of counties allowed to use countywide polling here.

What can I take with me to the polling location? Can I use my phone while I am voting?

No! You may have your phone with you, but you may not take it out and use it inside the polling location.

You may have paper, including campaign literature, your printed sample ballot, or other paper notes you need to remember which candidates you are voting for.

You cannot have visible campaign t-shirts, masks, or other items that advertise a candidate or political party within 100 feet of the polling place.

Can I give or receive assistance at the polling location?

Yes. Voters have the right to receive assistance from anyone who is not the employer or union representative of the voter being assisted. As a helper, you can provide assistance such as language interpretation or helping a voter with vision difficulties with the ballot. Voting locations also should have equipment for voters requiring assistance.

If you are the person giving assistance, you will be required to fill out a form about whether you have received financial benefits from any candidate or political action committee. You will also be asked to take an oath regarding your answers.

I moved and forgot to update the address where I am registered to vote. Can I still vote?

If you moved within the same county: You can go to vote in person during early voting or on Election Day. You will be asked to fill out a Statement of Residency. The ballot you will receive will reflect your previous address.

If you changed counties when you moved: You can vote ONLY during Early Voting at your new county’s main designated voting site on what is called a Limited Ballot. You can vote in the county you just moved to for elected positions that are on the ballot both in the county you moved from and the county you just moved to. For example, you will be able to vote on statewide positions such as U.S. Senator, because the position would be something you could vote on in your previous county as well as your new county of residence.

Please note that if you changed counties when you moved, you cannot vote at any polling place besides the designated main early voting site, and you cannot vote on Election Day. The last day to vote by limited ballot in the 2024 primaries is Friday, March 1, 2024.

I changed my name and forgot to update my voter registration information. Can I still vote?

Yes. You will be asked to fill out a Statement of Name Change at the polling location.

The address on my Texas Driver’s License doesn’t match the address on my voter registration. Can I still use it when voting?

Yes! Your photo ID is used to verify your identity, not your residence. You will need to separately verify the address where you are registered to vote is your residence, but you should not encounter problems voting if the address on your driver’s license differs from your voter registration address.

Are polling locations the same as the last election? Are the Election Day polling locations and voting hours the same as Early Voting polling locations and voting hours?

It depends – polling locations can change from election to election. Check with your county elections site or call your elections administrator first. Some counties add or change polling locations for Election Day as well. Polls are generally open from 7 AM to 7 PM, but this will depend on your county. 

2024 Primary Election Day

Please note that when you go to look up your sample ballot, there will be separate ballots for the Democratic primary and Republican primary. If you do not know your precinct number, you can find it on your 2024 voter registration card. The same information is available when you look up your voter registration information here.

Links to polling locations and office information for the following counties are below: Harris, Bexar, Brazoria, Collin, Dallas, Fort Bend, Galveston, Tarrant, and Travis.”

Bexar County
1103 S. Frio
Suite 100
San Antonio, TX 78207
Phone: 210-335-VOTE (8683)
Bexar County Polion Location Search
Bexar County Polling Locations by Precinct

Brazoria County Elections
1524 E Mulberry Suite 145
Angleton, TX 77515
Phone: (979) 864-1662,
(979) 388-1662 or (281) 756-1662
Brazoria County Election Day Polling Places
Brazoria County Sample Ballot Lookup

Collin County Elections
2010 Redbud Blvd., Suite 102
​McKinney, TX 75069
McKinney: (972) 547-1990
Metro: (972) 424-1460 ext. 1990
Collin County Election Day Voting Locations
Collin County Sample Ballot Lookup (find your precinct on your updated voter registration card)

Dallas County Elections
1520 Round Table Drive
Dallas, TX 75247
Main Office: (469) 627-VOTE (8683)
Dallas County Election Day Voting Locations
Dallas County Voting Schedule Link
Dallas County Sample Ballot Lookup

Fort Bend County Elections
4520 Reading Road, Suite A-400
Rosenberg, TX 77471
(281) 342-3411
Fort Bend County Election Day Voting Location Locator and Schedule Link
Fort Bend Democratic and Republican Sample Ballot Lookup (find your precinct on your updated voter registration card)

Galveston County
10000 Emmett F. Lowry Expressway, Suite 1152
Texas City, Texas 77591
409-770-5108
Galveston County Primary Voting Locations and Hours
Galveston County Sample Ballot Lookup

Harris County
1001 Preston, 4th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
(713) 755-6965
Harris County Voting Site Locator
Harris County Election Day Location List
Harris County Sample Ballot Lookup

Tarrant County
2700 Premier Street
Fort Worth, TX 76111
Phone: 817-831-8683
Tarrant County Sample Ballot and Voting Location Lookup
Tarrant County Election Day Location List

Travis County
Phone: 512-238-8683
elections@traviscounty.gov
Travis County Voting Location Map
Travis County Election Day Voting Location List
Travis County Sample Ballot Lookup

Williamson County
301 SE Inner Loop Suite 104
Georgetown, TX 78626
Phone: 512-943-1630
Williamson County Republican and Democratic Sample Ballots
Williamson County Election Day Location List

Voter Eligibility

Eligibility:

  • Be a U.S. citizen
  • Be a resident of the county where you submit the application
  • Be at least 17 years and 10 months old on the date your voter registration application is submitted, and will be 18 years of age on Election Day
  • Not be a convicted felon (you may be eligible to vote if you have completed your sentence, probation, and parole)
  • Now have been declared by a court exercising probate jurisdiction to be either totally mentally incapacitated or partially mentally incapacitated without the right to vote

What you need:

  • Texas driver’s license number or Texas personal ID
  • Social Security Number

Click here to register to vote!

Register to Vote

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