Texas
1 Check ID Rules
IDs for Voting in Person
Option 1: Show Photo ID
Texas asks registered voters to show a photo ID when they vote in person.
Your ID:
- Must have your name and photo.
- Can be expired up to 4 years (no time limit if you are 70 or older).
- Doesn’t need a current address.
- Cannot be an image, copy, digital ID, or mobile ID.
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 date)
- Texas handgun license
- Military identification
If you show a “temporary or limited-term” driver’s license or state ID card, you must also show your naturalization certificate or naturalization card to confirm citizenship.
Option 2: Sign Form Giving Reason for No Photo ID
Don’t have an accepted form of photo ID? You can still vote!
You have to give a specific reason why you could not get one.
What to do:
- Go to your voting location.
- Tell election workers you do not have an accepted photo ID and could not get one.
- Show one supporting document from the list below. You can bring the original or a printed copy.
- Sign a form (called a “reasonable impediment declaration”) explaining why you do not have photo ID.
- Cast your ballot!
Texas accepts reasons like
- Missing birth certificate or other necessary documents
- Lack of transportation
- Disability or illness
- Work schedule
Check the FAQ section below for the full list!
Important: Election workers cannot challenge your reason for not having an accepted photo ID.
You must show one of these supporting documents:
- Voter registration certificate
- Certified United States birth certificate (including territories)
- Document with name and address: current utility bill, paycheck, government check, or other government document
Option 3: Vote a Provisional Ballot and Confirm Your Identity
If you do not have photo ID or a qualifying reason, ask for a provisional ballot.
Provisional ballots are backup ballots. They make sure you can still vote if there is a problem.
To make your vote count:
Go to your local election office by 5 PM on the sixth calendar day after Election Day. Calendar days include weekends.
Confirm your identity one of these ways:
- Show an accepted photo ID.
- Sign a form (called a “reasonable impediment declaration”) and show a supporting ID.
- Sign a temporary affidavit (a sworn statement) for a religious objection or a natural disaster.
- Apply for a permanent disability exemption.
IDs for Voting by Mail
Only some Texas voters can vote by mail.
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 Your Ballot
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 Your Ballot
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?
Don’t have an accepted photo ID? You can get a free Texas Election Identification Certificate (EIC):
- Go to any DPS license office.
- You must be at least 17 years and 10 months old.
- You can only use this ID to vote.
What reasons allow me to vote without a photo ID in Texas? (
- Missing birth certificate or other necessary documents
- Lack of transportation
- Disability or illness
- Conflict with work schedule
- Family Responsibilities
- Lost or stolen photo ID
- Applied for ID but have not received it
Reminder: Election workers cannot challenge your reason for not having an accepted photo ID.
Can I use a digital or mobile ID to vote in Texas?
Bring a physical ID. You cannot use an image, copy, digital ID, or mobile ID to vote 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.
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.
2 Register
Who can vote in Texas?
You need to register before you can vote in Texas.
You can vote in Texas if you meet these requirements:
- You are a citizen of the United States.
- You are a resident of Texas.
- You are at least 18 years of age on Election Day.
You cannot register to vote in Texas if:
- You have been convicted of a felony and your civil rights have not been restored.
- You are under a court order that takes away your right to vote.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I register to vote in Texas if I have been convicted of a crime?
Each state has its own laws about whether citizens with previous criminal convictions can vote.
To check your eligibility to register in Texas, visit Restore Your Vote.
Can I register to vote in Texas if I attend college in Texas?
College students are allowed to vote using their Texas school residence address.
You can decide whether to register in your home state or where you attend school.
You may only be registered and vote in one location.
How to Register
Required ID Information
You have to verify your identity when you register to vote!
If you have a driver’s license or state ID card:
- Give your license or ID number on the registration form.
If you do not have either ID:
- Give the last 4 digits of your Social Security number.
- Don’t have a Social Security number? Leave this part of the form blank.
If you do not provide an ID number when you register, be ready to show an accepted ID the first time you vote.
You cannot register to vote online in Texas.
Registration options:
- Complete a registration form and send via mail.
- Visit your local election office or a voter registration agency to register in person.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I register and vote on the same day in Texas?
No, Texas does not allow you to register and vote on the same day.
Check Texas’s registration deadlines here!
If the registration deadline for an upcoming election has passed, you can still apply to register. Your registration will be processed, and you will be registered to vote in future elections.
How do I fix or update my voter registration information?
If you cannot find your registration information or if any details are incorrect:
- Update your name, address, or political party affiliation by submitting a new registration.
- Contact your local election office if you have questions or need to make other changes.
Register to Vote in Texas
Don’t have a state-issued ID? VoteRiders is here to help!
3 Vote
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.
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 track my Texas mail ballot?
In Texas, you have to give a specific reason for voting by absentee ballot.
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 absentee 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 provide you with notice of the rejection, including information explaining how to correct the defect.
If your ballot is rejected because the information on your ballot does not match your voter registration record, you will be able to correct your ballot using the online Ballot by Mail Tracker, available at votetexas.gov.
If your ballot is rejected because you do not provide the necessary identification, the clerk must offer you the opportunity to correct this defect. You will be giving a notice with instructions on how you can update your voter registration record to include one or more of the required forms of identification.
If your mail ballot is rejected you will receive a letter called a Notice of Rejected Ballot to your mailing address (and the mailing address on your ballot if different). You may also receive an email.
