Texas Secretary of State Voter FAQ Frequently Asked Questions : votetexas.gov

Organisation : Texas Secretary of State
Service Name : Voter FAQ Frequently Asked Questions
State : Texas
Country : United States of America
Website : https://www.votetexas.gov/faq/index.html

SOS Texas FAQ

The below Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) have been compiled with the March 6, 2018 Primary Election in mind. We hope that you will take a moment to review these pages, as you may find the answers to your questions.

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We encourage you to explore our website for more detailed information on elections and voting in Texas. We hope you find this useful, and we appreciate this opportunity to serve you. Note: We have grouped questions and answers in categories and provided links to additional information when needed.

FAQs & Answers

Q. I’m not sure if I’m registered; how can I confirm my voter registration status?
A. You can confirm your registration status on this website by going to Am I Registered? where you will select one of three methods for conducting your search.

You can base your search on: 1. your Voter Unique Identifier (VUID), which appears on your voter registration certificate; 2. your Texas driver’s license number, if you provided it when you applied for voter registration; or 3. your first and last name. Or, you can call the voter registrar’s office in the county where you reside.

Q. I’m not registered, but want to vote in the March 6, 2018 Primary Election; how can I be sure that I’m registered in time to vote?
A. The deadline to register and be eligible to vote in the March 6, 2018 election is February 5, 2018. This can be either the postmark date or the date the application is received in the office of the voter registrar. You may, of course, register at any time before that date to ensure that your registration is effective for voting in March.

You can obtain a voter registration application from your voter registrar’s office, libraries, most post offices, and high schools. You can also fill out a voter registration application online or request a postage-paid application be mailed to you. Note: If you fill out a voter registration application online using the above link, you must print the completed application and send it to your county voter registrar’s office.

Q. If I send my registration by the deadline, what happens next?
A. Your voter registration becomes effective 30 days after it is submitted (and accepted*) by the county voter registrar. The county office will then put your name on the voter registration list, generate your voter certificate, and mail it to you. Once received, be sure to read the information on the back of the certificate, sign by the X on the “front” of the card (the yellow area) and keep your voter card in a safe place.

If your original application is missing required information, you will receive a notice in the mail and have a deadline to respond to the notice.

Q. I am registered to vote, but I moved this past year. Is there anything I need to do to make sure that I won’t have a problem voting in March?
A. If you moved within the same county where you are currently registered, you must file the new address information in writing with your voter registrar OR you may submit the “in county” change online. The last day to make a change of address that will be effective for the March 6, 2018 Election is February 5, 2018.

If you missed this deadline, you may return to your old precinct to vote, if you still live in the political subdivision holding the election. If you moved within the county, you will have to go back to the precinct in which you are currently registered (your “old” precinct), and, at that location, you will be required to complete a “statement of residence” confirming your new address.

This will act to update your registration information for the future. You will then be allowed to vote a regular ballot as long as you are otherwise eligible. If you moved to a “new county,” you must re-register in your new county of residence by February 5, 2018, to be eligible to vote in the March 6, 2018 Election (unless you are eligible to vote a “limited ballot,” see below).

Q. I don’t remember seeing my certificate lately. Is that a problem? Don’t I just stay registered?
A. New certificates are mailed out every two years to the most recent address you gave to the voter registrar. If you do not recall receiving a new yellow and white certificate in 2017, it could mean that you have moved without updating, or there is some other problem with your registration.

If the certificate was mailed to an old address, it would have been returned to the registrar as the certificate is not forwardable mail, and you would have been placed on the “suspense list” in that county.

This means you have a grace period that allows you to vote in the same county in your old precinct, but if you do not vote, your name will be removed from the rolls after two federal elections have passed since you were placed on the suspense list. If you did not receive your certificate because you moved to a new Texas county, you will need to re-register.

Q. I am reviewing this page and nothing makes sense to me. These are not the rules I have heard. I’m in a state other than Texas-does that matter?
A. If you are visiting our website from another state, please remember that each state has slightly different rules. These rules describe Texas state law and are intended for voters who consider their permanent home to be in Texas and want to vote a Texas ballot.

If you arrived at this page through a search engine and you need another state’s election law, check the National Association of Secretaries of State page for other state websites.

Q. How can I be sure that I’m still on the voter rolls in the county where I reside?
A. You can check the status of your voter registration, where you will select one of three methods for conducting your search. You can base your search on: 1. your Voter Unique Identifier (VUID), which appears on your voter registration certificate; 2. your Texas driver’s license number, if you provided it when you applied for voter registration; or 3. your first and last name. Or, you can call the voter registrar’s office in the county where you reside.

Q. Who is eligible to vote early? What are the dates for voting early in person?
A. Any registered voter may vote early by personal appearance (in person). Early voting by personal appearance for the March 6, 2018 Election begins on February 20, 2018 and ends on March 2, 2018. You may vote at any early voting location in your county of registration.

Q. Will I still be allowed to vote if my status is listed as Suspense?
A. Yes. A voter whose status is on suspense is eligible to vote in an election provided that the voter completes a Statement of Residence either when voting by mail or at the polls prior to voting (within the same county as the voter’s current registration) or (if the voter has moved to a new county) completes a Limited Ballot application during Early Voting at the main early voting polling place.

A voter on Suspense who has moved within the same county would be allowed to vote on Election Day by returning to the precinct in which the voter previously resided and completing a Statement of Residence at that time. A voter may also complete a Voter Registration Application to update his/her address prior the Registration Cutoff deadline for any election and send the newly updated application to the Voter Registrar in the county in which the voter resides.

Q. Where do I go to vote?
A. You will be able to find early voting locations by using our search site Am I Registered?, which will be populated with voting sites a few days before early voting begins. Or, you may want to contact the Early Voting Clerk for State and County Elections in your county. Also, many newspapers publish early voting and election day polling locations, so you might be able to find the information there.

Contact

Texas Secretary of State
P.O. Box 12060
Austin, Texas 78711-2060

E-mail: elections@sos.texas.gov
Toll free: 800.252.VOTE(8683)
Local: 512.463.5650
Fax: 512.475.2811