Texas Absentee Voter Guide

Military and overseas voters should visit the Overseas Vote Foundation.  Long Distance Voter's forms and deadlines should only be used by voters with US mailing addresses.

Important Deadlines

• Voter Registration: Postmarked at least 30 days before the election
• Absentee ballot application: Received by the close of business on the 7th day before the election (or, in the 7th day is a weekend, the preceding Friday)
• Voted absentee ballot: Received by close of polls (7pm) on Election Day

How to vote by absentee ballot 

Register to vote

Recommended: Use our Voter Registration Widget.  Enter your information, print and sign the completed form, and mail it to the address printed on the form. 

You can also use Texas's voter registration form.  Mail your completed form to your County Voter Registrar.

Verify your voter registration

You should receive written confirmation that your voter registration was processed in 2-3 weeks.  Don't panic if you never receive your voter registration card: you don't actually need it to vote.  If you not sure if your registration was processed - or if you simply can't remember if you're register to vote - you can use the voter registration verification tools here.

Make sure you're eligible to vote by absentee ballot

You may vote absentee in Texas if you are:

• going to be away from your county on Election Day and during early voting;
• sick or disabled;
• 65 years of age or older on Election Day; or
• confined in jail, but eligible to vote.

Apply for your absentee ("early by-mail") ballot

In Texas, they call it "early voting by mail." You can start applying for an early voting ballot 60 days before the election.  Download and complete the Texas application for an absentee ballot.  Mail, fax, or hand-deliver your completed application to your County Clerk. Be sure to write "Early Voting Clerk" on the envelope.  If you hand-deliver your application, it must be delivered before the start of the early voting period (17 days before the election).  Once early voting has started, absentee ballot applications will only be accepted by mail, common or contract carrier, or by fax.

Receive, complete, and return your absentee ballot

Fill out your ballot, sign where indicated, put a stamp on it, and then mail your absentee ballot back to your County Clerk.  Your absentee ballot must be received by the close of polls on Election Day.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Do I need to provide ID when I vote by absentee ballot?

You do not need to provide ID if you have already voted at least once in Texas.  If you are a first time voter and you did not put your drivers license number or Social Security number on your voter registration form then you must include a copy of your ID with your absentee ballot application (you are exempt from this requirement if you included this document with your voter registration form). 

Acceptable forms of ID include: a state issued driver's license or state ID card that shows your name (a card issued by another state is fine, even if it's expired); any other photo ID that shows your name; a US passport, US birth certificate, or US citizenship papers; OR a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and Texas address.

I missed the absentee ballot application deadline.  Is there anything I can do?  

In most cases, no.  If you experience a death in your family on or after the third day before an election - and you can no longer vote in person - you can request an Emergency Absentee Ballot.  You must hand-deliver your Emergency Absentee Ballot Application to your Early Voting Clerk on or after the 3rd day before election day and before 5pm the day before the election.

I won't be able to go to the polls on election day but don't want to vote by mail.  Can I vote in person before the election?

Yes. Check out our Early Voting page for details.

Additional Information