Voting FAQ

Yes. Voters need to bring an approved form of identification to vote at the Vote Center. Click here to find a list of the approved forms of voting identification.

Voters who do not possess an acceptable form of photo ID or a supporting document have the option of voting via a Provisional Ballot. The Provisional Ballot must be cured within the 6 days following the election.

Persons are not allowed to use a wireless communications device within 100-feet of the voting stations. Additionally, persons are not allowed to use a mechanical or electronic device to record sound or images within 100-feet of the voting stations. Said devices include but are not limited to cell phones, digital phones, cameras, phone cameras and sound recorders.  The election judge has the authority to require persons to deactivate any such device and further authority to require persons who do not comply to leave the Vote Center.

If a voter has a question while in the voting booth, the voter should notify an election worker.

Yes. Voting equipment allows disable voters to vote independently. Voters physically unable to enter the Vote Center may also request to be allowed to vote at the “curbside” outside the Vote Center. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

Take your printed ballot to the ballot scanner and insert it into the scanner. Your ballot is cast when you see a the American Flag display on the screen. 

Yes. On the voter's request, the voter may be assisted by any person selected by the voter other than the voter's employer, an agent of the voter's employer, or an officer or agent of a labor union to which the voter belongs.

A Declaration of Reasonable Impediment is a document that eligible registered voters who do not possess an acceptable form of photo identification must complete and provide a supporting document to cast a regular ballot. Click here to learn more.

Texas Election Code: Sec. 85.001. EARLY VOTING PERIOD.General Election: During a General Election the period for early voting by personal appearance begins on the 17th day before Election Day and continues through the fourth day before Election Day, except as otherwise provided.Runoff Election: The Early Voting Period for a special runoff election for the office of state senator or state representative or for a runoff primary election begins on the 10th day before election day.If the date prescribed by Subsection (a) or (b) for beginning the period is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal state holiday, the early voting period begins on the next regular business day.

Any qualified voter may vote early by personal appearance. No reason is needed.

You can apply to Vote by Mail at any time, but our office must receive (not just postmarked) your application

• By October 23, in order to send you a mail ballot for the November 3, 2025, General & Special Election.

You can also drop off your application in-person to any of our 10 offices with a valid photo identification. Click here to find an election's office near you.

Due to potential delays with the postal service, PLEASE DO NOT WAIT – APPLY NOW!

Early Voting by Personal Appearance was introduced in Texas in the mid-1990s to make voting more convenient for the citizenry. It also provides voters who may be away from the county of residence on Election Day the opportunity to vote in person.

By law, in counties with a population of 400,000 or more, the commissioners court has the authority to establish at least one early voting site at each state representative district.

Any qualified voter may vote in person at the main Early Vote Center or at any other designated Early Voting branch location during designated times. Click here to find Early Voting locations.

Registered voters in Harris County are eligible to vote. To register or check the status of your registration click here

Tuesday, November 3, 2026 - Uniform Election Date

To view what contests will be on your ballot click here to view your sample ballot

Yes. It is not necessary to have voted in the Primary or Primary Runoff to vote in the General Election

The straight-party voting option (straight-ticket) will be NO LONGER available beginning in 2020 under a bill Governor Greg Abbott signed in 2017

No

An application to Vote by Mail can be submitted in any of the following manners:

Regular residential mail via United States Postal Service; Common or contract carrier (e.g., personal courier, FedEx, UPS, or other contracted mail service); Fax machine (713.755.4983) or e-mail ([email protected]).  If you choose this option, the Harris County Clerk's Office Elections Department MUST receive your original, completed paper application by one of the above methods within four (4) business days of your email or fax.

Domestic ballots will begin to be mailed out 6-8 weeks before the Election for those who have submitted applications by that time. If you submit an application after that time, your ballot will be mailed out within seven (7) days of your application being received.

Voters outside the United States: Your ballots will be mailed on or before the 45th day before Election Day, or within seven (7) days of your application being received.

All ballots being returned in person must be received by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day. If you are overseas and returning your ballot through the mail or a common or contract carrier, our office must receive it by 5 P.M., five days after Election Day. If you are serving in the military and returning your ballot through the mail or a common or contract carrier, our office must receive it by 5 P.M., six days after Election Day

A completed mail ballot MUST be returned to the Harris County Clerk's Office Elections Department in the Official Carrier Envelope provided to you. It may be returned in any of the following manners:

1. Regular residential mail via United States Postal Service;
   • Ballot must be postmarked by 7 PM on Election Day and must be received by 5 PM on the first mail delivery day after Election Day (Harris County Clerk's Office Elections Department - P.O. Box 1148Houston, TX 77251-1148)
   • In-person drop off at 1019 Congress Street Houston, TX 77002 on Election Day only from 7 AM – 7 PM.
   • You must present an acceptable form of photo identification
   • If a voter does not possess and cannot reasonably obtain an acceptable form of photo identification, the voter may show a List B identification and complete a Reasonable Impediment Declaration (RID)
   • Only the voter may deliver their ballot in person
2. Common or contract carrier; such as personal courier, or FedEx or UPS, or other contracted mail service (Harris County Clerk's Office Elections Department  - 15600 Morales Road, Houston, TX 77032)
   • Ballot must be received by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day
   • If the carrier provides receipt mark indicating a time before 7:00 p.m. on Election Day, it may be received by 5:00 p.m. on the first mail delivery day after Election Day.

You can check your voting status at Vote411.org.

To register to vote, there are currently two Texas organizations that will assist you with your registration remotely, Register2Vote.org and The League of Women Voters - Houston. Both of these organizations will supply you with a no contact, postage-paid voter registration card.

If you are 65 years of age or older, or have a disability, you can apply for an annual ballot – this means that your Vote by Mail option will be registered for that entire calendar year. You will need to reapply each calendar year for an annual Vote by Mail ballot

Registered voters may obtain an application by:

• Downloading it from HarrisVotes.com/Voter/Vote By Mail
• Calling 713.755.6965, or
• Sending an email to [email protected]

By October 23, in order to send you a mail ballot for the November 3, 2026 General & Special Election.

You can also drop off your application in-person to any of our 10 offices with a valid photo identification. Click here to find an election's office near you.

Due to potential delays with the postal service, PLEASE DO NOT WAIT – APPLY NOW!

Under Texas law, you qualify as having a disability if you are (1) sick, (2) pregnant, or (3) if voting in person will create a likelihood of injury to your health.

The Texas Supreme Court has ruled that lack of immunity to COVID-19 can be considered as a factor in your decision as to whether voting in person will create a likelihood of injury to your health, but it cannot be the only factor. You do not qualify to vote by mail as “disabled” if you have a fear of contracting COVID-19 but are otherwise healthy. To qualify, you must have an accompanying physical condition. 

Your Vote by Mail ballot is counted when voting centers close at 7:00 p.m. on Election Day. At that time, all Vote by Mail ballots will be tabulated and submitted into the official record. The total number of votes cast by mail are included in the final tally

When your completed Vote by Mail ballot is received at our office, it goes through a rigorous validation system.

The Carrier Envelope is verified for signature authentication, logged, and securely stored. Your Vote by Mail ballot is not counted until voting centers close at 7:00 p.m. on Election Day. At that time, all Vote by Mail ballots will be tabulated and submitted into the official record.

You are eligible to Vote By Mail in Texas if: 

1. You are age 65 or older by Election Day;
2. You will be outside of Harris County for all of the Early Voting period and on Election Day;
3. You are confined in jail but otherwise eligible to vote; or
4. You have a disability.

Yes, you may receive assistance in completing and submitting your application from a friend or a relative. Your assistant MUST carefully review the instructions and complete the additional WITNESS/ASSISTANT section of the application.

Please visit Mail Ballot Tracking to find out the status of your vote-by-mail application. For additional assistance, please call our Election Help Line at 713.755.6965

The voter’s signature on the Vote by Mail ballot return envelope is compared to the signature from your Vote by Mail application and/or your voter registration application to maintain voter integrity