Texas

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Texas asks for photo ID to vote in person and specific ID numbers to vote by mail.

1 Check ID Rules

Voter ID in Texas

Texas has different rules for:

🗳️ Voting in Person

✉️ Voting by Mail

 

IDs for Voting in Person

Texas requests a photo ID to vote in person. If you don’t have one, you can still vote by signing a Reasonable Impediment Declaration and showing a supporting form of ID.

Option 1: Show an accepted photo ID

Your photo ID:

  • Can be expired up to 4 years (longer if it expired after your 70th birthday).

You can show:

  • Texas driver’s license
  • Texas state ID card
  • Texas Election ID Certificate (EIC)
  • US passport or passport card
  • US Citizenship Certificate (no expiration)
  • Texas handgun license
  • Military identification

Naturalized citizens who have a “temporary or limited-term” driver’s license or state ID card (issued before you became a citizen) must also present their naturalization certificate or naturalization card. If you have questions, call or text VoteRiders’ Helpline at 866-432-8683.

Option 2: Sign a Reasonable Impediment Declaration

If you don’t have one of the photo IDs above, you can still cast a regular ballot.

Present one supporting form of ID:

  • Voter registration certificate
  • Certified US birth certificate (including US territories)

Or a document that shows your name and an address:

  • Current utility bill
  • Bank statement
  • Paycheck
  • Government check
  • Other government document

Then ask to complete and sign a Reasonable Impediment Declaration form.

A “reasonable impediment” is something you can’t control that stops you from getting an accepted photo ID. Texas accepts these reasons:

  • lack of transportation
  • lack of birth certificate (or other necessary documents)
  • disability or illness
  • conflict with your work schedule
  • family responsibilities
  • photo ID was lost or stolen
  • applied for photo ID but haven’t received it

Election workers aren’t allowed to challenge your reason for not having an ID.

Option 3: Ask for a Provisional Ballot

If you can’t show a photo ID from Option 1 or vote under a reasonable impediment exception in Option 2, ask to vote a provisional ballot. Provisional ballots make sure eligible voters are not rejected at the polls.

For your provisional ballot to count:

Visit your county’s voter registration office within 6 calendar days of the election and do one of the following:

  • Present one of the 7 accepted forms of photo ID.
  • Sign a Reasonable Impediment Declaration and present a supporting form of ID.
  • If applicable, submit a temporary affidavit (for example, religious objection or natural disaster).
  • If applicable, qualify for a permanent disability exemption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I get a free ID in Texas?

Free IDs are available for Texas voters!

Registered voters without an accepted photo ID can get a free Texas Election Identification Certificate (EIC).

All DPS driver’s license offices issue free EICs to Texas residents aged 17 years and 10 months or older. This ID is only intended for voting.

You need to provide:

  • Documents to verify US citizenship and identity (including any name changes)
  • Voter registration card (or submit a registration application at the office)

Find more details about how to apply for a Texas Election Identification Certificate.

What if I don’t have the right ID to vote in Texas?

You still have options if you don’t have an accepted photo ID.

Vote a regular ballot with a Reasonable Impediment Declaration

This option is for voters who don’t have and can’t reasonably get an accepted photo ID.

Election workers aren’t allowed to challenge your reason for not having an ID. For example, if you check “lack of transportation,” the poll worker should not question your access to a bus route or other transportation.

Vote a provisional ballot and return with ID

Cast a provisional ballot if you can’t present ID or vote under a reasonable impediment exception.

  • Visit your county’s voter registration office within 6 calendar days of the election.
  • Present an accepted photo ID, sign a Reasonable Impediment Declaration with a supporting ID, submit a temporary affidavit, or qualify for a permanent disability exemption.

If you don’t have an accepted photo ID, you can get a free Texas Election ID Certificate. See the FAQ “How can I get a free ID in Texas?” above.

Can I use a digital or mobile ID to vote in Texas?

You must show a physical ID at the polls.

You cannot use an image, copy, or digital ID when voting in person.

Can I use a suspended driver’s license to vote in Texas?

Yes. A suspended driver’s license is accepted as voter ID in Texas.

Do I need a “REAL ID” to vote in Texas?

You do not need a “REAL ID” to vote in Texas.

“REAL ID” is a set of national security standards for states to follow when they issue driver’s licenses and state ID cards. Your ID will show a star if it meets REAL ID standards.

Texas now issues only REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses and state ID cards. If you need to renew your Texas license or ID (or apply for a new one), you must go through the REAL ID process. Visit the Texas DPS website to learn more.

Does my ID need to have the same name and address as my voter registration?

Address

Your ID is not required to show your current address in Texas. If you are registered at your current address, it’s okay to use an accepted photo ID with an old address — you should be allowed to cast a regular ballot.

Name

If the name on your ID is slightly different but still very close (“substantially similar”) to the name on the list of registered voters, you can still vote. You just need to confirm you’re the same person on the list. Election officials consider the name “substantially similar” if:

  • It is slightly different from the name on the official list of registered voters.
  • One of the names is a common variation of your formal name (e.g. Bill for William, or Kate for Katherine).
  • You have an initial, middle name, or former name that is missing on either the list or your ID.
  • Your ID has your first name, middle name, former name, or initial in a different place than the list.

If you change your name after registering to vote, you can update your voter registration online through the Office of the Secretary of State.

 

IDs for Voting by Mail

Only some Texas voters can vote by mail.

Reasons you can vote by mail include:

  • Being away from your county during early voting hours and on Election Day
  • Physical disability or illness
  • Being age 65 or older

See the FAQ “Who can vote by mail in Texas?” below for the full list of reasons accepted by the state.

Texas voters must provide specific ID numbers twice. Give the same numbers when you apply for a mail ballot and when you return it.

Requesting a ballot by mail:

Complete an application for a Ballot by Mail and return it to your county’s early voting clerk. Provide one of these numbers on your application:

  • Texas driver’s license number
  • Texas state ID card number
  • Texas Election ID Certificate number

Include these numbers even if your ID has expired. If you don’t have any of them, use the last 4 digits of your Social Security number — and check the box if you don’t have a Social Security number either. If you have two of the required numbers (for example, a driver’s license number and a Social Security number), write both so the number matching your voter registration is included. You’ll be sent a notice if your application is rejected.

Returning a ballot by mail:

Include the same identification numbers (or check the appropriate box) on your completed mail ballot envelope.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can vote by mail in Texas?

In Texas, you have to give a specific reason for voting by mail.

The following reasons are accepted:

  • Being away from your county during early voting hours and on Election Day
  • Physical disability or illness
  • Being age 65 or older
  • Expected to give birth three weeks before or after Election Day
  • Confined in jail but eligible to vote

Request your ballot by contacting your county’s Early Voting Clerk.

Can I fix my Texas mail ballot if it is rejected?

If your mail ballot is rejected, the early voting clerk must send you notice of the rejection, including how to correct the defect.

How to fix it:

  • If your ballot is rejected because the information doesn’t match your voter registration record, you can correct it using the online Ballot by Mail Tracker at votetexas.gov.
  • If your ballot is rejected because you didn’t provide the necessary identification, the clerk must offer you the chance to correct it, with instructions on how to update your voter registration record.

If your mail ballot is rejected, you will receive a letter called a Notice of Rejected Ballot at your mailing address (and the mailing address on your ballot, if different). You may also receive an email.

 

Updated: July 2026