Texas

Voter ID in Texas

 

What is your plan for voting?

Voter ID rules are different based on whether you vote by absentee ballot or in person.

 

 

Voting by Absentee Ballot

You can vote using an absentee ballot if:

  • You are a registered voter in Texas.
  • You can’t go to your polling place for a valid reason, including being sick or having a physical disability.

Voters with disabilities have the option to fill out an annual application to vote by mail.

Requesting Your Ballot

You need to apply with your county’s early voting clerk to receive an absentee ballot.

Application Info

Your application must include one of these (even if they’re expired):

  • Texas driver’s license or ID number
  • Texas election ID certificate number

If you don’t have any of these numbers, you can use the last four digits of your Social Security number.

If you don’t have any of these numbers, just check the box saying you don’t have them. If you have more than one of these numbers, include both on your application to make sure it matches your voter registration.

 

Returning Your Ballot

You need to include one of these with your ballot (even if they’re expired):

  • Texas driver’s license or ID number
  • Texas election ID certificate number

If you don’t have any of these numbers, you can use the last four digits of your Social Security number.

If you don’t have any of these numbers, just check the box saying you don’t have them. If you have more than one of these numbers, include both on your application to make sure it matches your voter registration.

Texas only allows some military and overseas voters to return their ballots online.

 

 

Voting in Person

You will be asked to show photo ID to vote in Texas.

You can use one of these photo IDs to vote a regular ballot. Your ID should not be expired for more than 4 years. If you’re 70 or older, it can be expired for any length of time:

  • Texas driver’s license or ID
  • Texas election ID certificate
  • Handgun license
  • Military ID
  • US passport book or card
  • US Citizenship Certificate (does not expire)

Exceptions

If you don’t have one of the photo IDs listed above, you can still vote by following these steps:

  1. Bring one of these supporting IDs:
    • Voter registration certificate
    • Certified US birth certificate (including territory)
    • Current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck (showing your name and any address)
    • Government check or other government document (showing your name and any address)
  2. Complete and sign a “Reasonable Impediment Declaration” form.

Important notes:

  • An election officer cannot question the reasonableness of your impediment to getting an ID.
  • A reasonable impediment is a valid reason beyond your control that makes it difficult to get an acceptable photo ID. In Texas, this includes disability or illness.

To vote using the reasonable impediment exception:

  1. Bring a supporting ID.
  2. Inform the poll worker that you don’t have a photo ID and couldn’t obtain one.
  3. Fill out and sign a Reasonable Impediment Declaration.
  4. Cast your regular ballot.

Voters with disabilities can also ask their county’s voter registrar for a permanent exemption from voter ID rules.

 

 

Page Updated: August 2023