Texas

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Texas requests photo ID to vote in person. If you can’t get an accepted photo ID, there is another way to confirm your identity. Check below for your options! You must provide specific ID numbers when you request an absentee ballot and when you return it.

1 Check ID Rules

Voting in Person

Texas requests photo ID to vote in person. You can vote without a photo ID if you sign a Reasonable Impediment Declaration form and present a supporting form of ID.

Accepted Photo IDs

Show one of these IDs to vote a regular ballot:
Ok if expired up to 4 years (or more time after 70th birthday) 

  • 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 “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.

Reasonable Impediment Declaration

If you do not have one of the photo IDs listed above, you can still cast a regular ballot. 

You must:

Present one supporting form of ID:

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

Must show your name and an address: 

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

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 the following 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

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

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 

Check 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.

You must provide one of the following numbers on your application form: 

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

Include these numbers even if ID has expired!

If you do not have any of these numbers, you can use the last 4 digits of your Social Security number. 

There a box that you can check if you also do not have a Social Security number. 

If you have two of the required numbers (for example: a Texas driver’s license number and a Social Security number), you should write both on your application form. This will ensure that you include the number that matches your voter registration information file with the state. 

You will be sent a notice if your ballot application is rejected. 

Returning a Ballot by Mail 

You need to include the same identification numbers (or check the appropriate box) on your completed mail ballot envelope. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I get a free ID in Texas?

Registered voters who do not have 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 registration application at 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?

Texas voters who do not present an accepted photo ID at the polls have two options:

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 form of photo ID. 

How to vote using a Reasonable Impediment Declaration: 

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

Election workers aren’t allowed to challenge your reason for not having an ID. For example: If you check “lacks transportation” on your declaration form, the poll worker should not question your access to a bus route or other transportation.

Texas accepts the following 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

Vote a Provisional Ballot and Return with ID 

Cast a provisional ballot if you can’t to present ID or vote under a reasonable impediment exception. Provisional ballots make sure eligible voters are not rejected at the polls.

For your provisional ballot to count, you must visit your county’s voter registration office within 6 calendar days of the election. Find your local office.

You can either:

  • 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.

If you do not have an accepted photo ID, you can get a free Texas Election ID Certificate. Check the FAQ above “How can I get a free ID to vote in Texas?” for more info.

Learn more here!  (link to “Vote” section)  

Can I use a digital or mobile ID to vote in Texas?
You must present a physical ID to vote in Texas. You cannot use an image, copy, or digital ID when you are voting in person.
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.

Applying for a REAL ID requires you to appear in person with a variety of documents to prove your identity.

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.

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.
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 you current address, it is okay to use an accepted form of 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 that you’re the same person on the list.

Election officials consider the name on your ID to be “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. For example: 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.