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Voting for the 2024 elections begins Monday. Texans can go to the polls to cast their votes for the president and various federal, state, and in some cases local elected officials.

These elected officials have a say in how much Texans pay in taxes, what students learn in public schools, what health care – including reproductive health care – is available, and many other facets of people’s lives.

Before you go to the polls, you should know that you have rights as a voter and that there are certain rules at polling locations about what you can bring and wear. You will also need an approved photo ID to vote in person.

What rights do I have as a voter?

If a registered voter’s name does not appear on the voter registration list due to an administrative matter, he has the right to cast a provisional vote.

Voters generally have the right to cast their votes in secret and may not be subjected to intimidation.

Voters have the right to receive written instructions on how to vote or to ask an employee or poll worker (but not on who or what to vote for).

Don’t forget to check your ballot for any errors. You have the right to receive up to two additional ballots to make corrections. Incorrect ballots will be destroyed and not counted.

Texas law says voters have the right to vote during work hours without penalty or loss of pay, but this may not apply if an employee has two hours before or after work to vote.

On Election Day, voters have the right to cast their ballot as long as they are in line by 7 p.m.

Voters with disabilities or limited English proficiency may receive interpretation, assistance or accommodations to vote. Read more about that in the next section.

If you are having trouble voting, you can contact your county elections official, the Secretary of State’s office at 1-800-252-VOTE (8683), or the voter protection hotlines of a coalition of voting rights groups. The coalition’s helpline in English is 866-OUR-VOTE (687-8683), and phone numbers for the helpline in other languages ​​can be found here.

How can I get accessibility or language adjustments?

In addition to the option to vote by post, a voter with a disability can be assisted by a person of their choice when voting at a voting center. In Texas, a voter with a disability is a voter with a “disease or physical condition” that prevents him from voting in person without the likelihood of “requiring personal assistance or harming the health of the voter.” A voter does not have to prove disability to election officials or employees and cannot be turned away.

All polling places in Texas must meet accessibility standards, including entrances and exits that are at least 32 inches wide and accessible curbs and stairs. Each location usually has at least one type of accessible voting equipment for voters, but you may want to check.

Voters who cannot enter a polling place can also request curbside voting. This should be made available at every polling station for voters with disabilities who cannot enter the polling station.

If a voter has a mobility issue that significantly affects their ability to move or walk, the voter can request priority to vote in person and skip the line at the polls. If they have an assistant, the assistant can also skip the line at the voter’s request.

Voters can choose a person to help them interpret and fill out their ballot at the polls. This could be a family member, friend or anyone else, as long as the person is not the voter’s employer or a representative of their trade union.

A voter can also be assisted by poll workers. If a voter requires sign language interpretation and does not have a person of their choice to assist them, it is recommended that they call their election officials in advance to request assistance.

Learn more about assistance and accommodations from the Texas Secretary of State’s office here.

What are the rules at the ballot box?

There are usually traffic cones or markings 30 meters from the entrance to a polling place. That’s because cell phones, cameras, computers and other devices that can record sound or images cannot be used within 100 feet of polling stations (where ballots are marked). Election officials may require voters to deactivate their phones once they are at the polling place.

Campaigning is also prohibited within those 30 meters, meaning voters are not allowed to wear clothing or other items that publicize candidates, political parties or measures on the ballot. Items publicizing past candidates and measures not currently on the ballot are OK.

Under Texas law, firearms, including handguns, are also prohibited at polling places.

Voters may use written notes to cast their ballots at the discretion of election officials, who can determine whether the materials count as a campaign.

What’s on the ballot?

Not sure what’s on your ballot? You can use our lookup tool to view your state and federal elections. You can also get a sample ballot from your province.

To learn more about candidates, visit votes411.org to see if any of your candidates responded to the League of Women Voters’ candidate questionnaires. This includes information about candidates for statewide elections for president, U.S. Senator, railroad commissioner, and for members of the Texas Supreme Court and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.

Where should I go to vote?

During early voting, voters can cast their ballot at any polling place in the province where they are registered to vote. On Election Day, some counties may require you to vote at a location specific to your address (precinct), which you can find on your voter registration certificate or by checking your registration online.

You can find a list of counties where voters can vote at any polling place in the county on Election Day at the Texas Secretary of State’s office.

Check your county elections website for early voting times and locations and election day locations. You can find yours here. You can also use the Secretary of State’s website to view polling places, but your province’s information will be the most current.

You may want to consider calling election officials, especially on Election Day, to ensure voting locations have not been changed at the last minute. On election day, November 5, polling stations are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Need a ride to the polls? The rideshare companies Uber and Lyft are offering 50% discounts (or up to $10) on Election Day. To get the discount, voters can use Uber’s in-app “Go Vote” feature or pre-load the code “VOTE24” into the Lyft app. Read more details from Uber and Lyft.

If you are voting by mail within the US, your ballot must be postmarked by 7:00 PM on Election Day and received by your county by 5:00 PM on Wednesday to be counted. Learn more about photo IDs, registration requirements and mail-in ballots in our voter guide here.

What do I need to vote?

You need one of seven types of valid photo ID to vote in Texas:

• A state driver’s license issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety.
• A Texas election identification certificate issued by DPS.
• A Texas personal identification card issued by DPS.
• A Texas permit to carry a handgun issued by DPS.
• A US military ID card with a personal photo.
• A certificate of US citizenship with a personal photo.
• An American passport.

If you do not have an approved photo ID, you can still vote by signing a reasonable impediment form and providing valid supporting identification documents, such as a birth certificate, your voter registration certificate, or a current utility bill with your name and address.

If you use an ID or driver’s license, the address listed there does not have to match your current address. And if you forget your ID, you can cast a provisional vote. This can only be counted if you provide the required photo ID or documents within six days.

What should I do if my voter registration is “in tension”?

If your voter registration shows as “in tension,” it usually means officials are unsure of your address. But you may still be able to vote by completing a ‘residential declaration’ at the ballot box. If you have moved and have not updated your address by the voter registration deadline on October 7, you may be able to vote at your previous polling place if it is within the same county or political subdivision, or you may be able to vote using a restricted ballot.

A limited ballot includes only statewide elections and federal elections for the president and U.S. senator of Texas. Unless you are eligible to vote by mail, a limited ballot is only available in person during early voting at the main early voting location, usually the office of the elections administrator or the county clerk who administers the elections in your county. Contact the elections office in your county to request a restricted ballot.

Can I vote in person if I requested a mail-in ballot?

The short answer is yes, if you are in Texas and in the county where you are registered to vote. The process will be more streamlined if you take your ballot with you to your polling place so you can turn it in before you cast your vote. If you do not have your ballot or have never received it, you can still cast a provisional vote. Your vote will be counted once the county determines that it never received your ballot.

Voters who chose to vote by mail due to illness or disability may also be eligible to vote via curbside voting or emergency voting.

To request an emergency vote, you must designate a representative to personally apply on your behalf and have a certified doctor’s note. The application must be received by your county election official by 5:00 PM on Election Day, and your ballot must be returned by the same designated representative by 7:00 PM on Election Day to be eligible.

Contact your county elections office for more information about curbside voting and emergency voting.