View Voting By Mail FAQs
Applications must be delivered to our 4th floor office at 1001 Preston Street in Houston. You may not drop off applications in person for anyone else, even if they are a spouse or family member.
Application for Ballot By Mail
In the process of voting and returning your mail ballot, make sure to follow the steps below:
A completed mail ballot MUST be returned to the Harris County Election Administrator’s Office in the Official Carrier Envelope provided to you. It may be returned in any of the following manners:
Important Notes:
For more information:
Harris County registered voters who are temporarily out of the country and wish to vote, may complete the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). This type of application is limited to:
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the FPCA online submission; please email the Elections Administrator's Office at
fpca@vote.hctx.net.Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) applications pre-qualify U.S. citizens who are temporarily outside of the country to automatically receive ballots for all elections in which they qualify to vote.
The FPCA is valid for one calendar year (last day of December), when completed properly. The FPCA must be resubmitted every time a voter changes mailing address.
To participate in an election taking place within a calendar year, an FPCA may be mailed starting on January 1 of that year.
For additional information visit the Federal Voting Assistance Program’s website at www.fvap.gov.
In Texas, voters who are 65 years of age or older or are disabled may submit an annual ballot by mail application to the early voting clerk starting on the first day of a calendar year. Temporarily disabled voters may submit a ballot by mail application for a specific election at any time in the year of the election for which a ballot is requested, but not later than the close of regular business in the early voting clerk's office or 12 noon, whichever is later, on the 11th day before election day unless that day is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal state or national holiday, in which case the last day is the first preceding regular business day. Eligible applicants will receive a ballot in the mail and must return it to the early voting clerk. The voted ballot must be delivered to the Election Administrator's Office via mail, or common or contract courier by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day.
Voters who are physically unable to enter the polling location without assistance or likelihood of injury to the voter’s health may ask the presiding election official to allow them to vote outside the polling location. The election officer will deliver a ballot to the voter at the polling place entrance or curb. A special curbside buzzer will be placed near the entrance of the poll so a curbside voter may ring the buzzer from their car. A sign will identify the curbside voting. If you have any questions regarding Curbside Voting, you may contact the Elections office at 713-755-6965. Voting curbside will not shorten the time at the polls as curbside voters are voted as their place in line arrives to the qualification table.
You may submit an application for a late ballot because of sickness or disability after the last day of early voting and before 5:00pm on election day. In order to qualify the sickness or disability must originate on or after the 12th day before election day. (Secs. 102.001; 102.003).
You may submit an application to vote due to a death in the immediate family that occurred on or after the 5th day before election day and will be absent from the county on election day. (Secs. 103.001; 103.003b).
Voters are required to submit an application for these specific instances. Please contact the Elections Division at 713-755-6965 for questions.
Pursuant to Section 63.0013, Election Code:An election officer may give voting order priority to individuals with a mobility problem that substantially impairs the person's ability to move around.
NOTE: Providing a Texas Driver’s License or Texas Personal ID expedites the voter qualification process.
Texas Driver License issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
Texas Personal Identification Card issued by DPS
Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS
Texas Handgun License issued by DPS
United States Military Identification Card containing your photograph
United States Passport (book or card)
United States citizenship certificate containing your photograph
* With the exception of the U.S. citizenship certificate, the identification must be current or, for voters aged 18-69, have expired no more than 4 years before being presented for voter qualification at the polling place. A person 70 years of age or older may use a form of identification listed above that has expired if the identification is otherwise valid.
Voters who currently do not have an approved form of photo ID may apply for an Election Identification Certificate (EIC) at no charge with the Department of Public Safety. For more information: Call (512) 424-2600 or visit https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/election-identification-certificate-eic
EXEMPTION: Voters with a disability may apply with the county voter registrar for a permanent exemption to showing acceptable photo ID or following the Reasonable Impediment Declaration procedure at the polls. Voters with a religious objection to being photographed or voters who do not present an acceptable form of photo identification or follow the Reasonable Impediment Declaration procedure at the polls because of certain natural disasters may apply for a temporary exemption to showing an acceptable form of photo identification or following the Reasonable Impediment Declaration procedure at the polls. Please contact your voter registrar for more details.
Harris County is pleased to announce the next generation of voting machines to make voting more accessible and transparent to and for voters, the Verity Duo from Hart InterCivic.
Verity Duo combines the ease and accuracy of touchscreen ballot marking with the assurance of a voter-verifiable paper trail. Verity Duo prints an easy-to-read summary of voter choices for verification, and the scanner counts votes directly from this summary.
Information is vital to accessing the voting process. For this reason, I encourage you to contact us if you have a question, need assistance or have a suggestion.
(713) 755-6965
voters@harrisvotes.com
ADA Coordinator: Sashi Nisankarao
August 2020 Subject Matter Expert Public Report
February 2021 Subject Matter Expert Public Report
August 2021 Subject Matter Expert Public Report
(713) 755-6965
ADA@vote.hctx.net