Voting for the 2026 primaries begins Tuesday. Texas Republican and Democrat voters will choose which candidate they wish to characterize their pursuits and their get together on the poll for the November basic election.
Earlier than you head to the polls, you must know you may have rights as a voter and there are specific guidelines in place at voting places about what you’ll be able to carry and put on. You additionally want an authorised photograph ID to vote in particular person.
How do primaries work?
The election shall be on March 3, and early voting will run Feb. 17-27. In every race, the candidate who wins greater than half of the votes will face the successful candidate from the opposite get together within the November basic election. If no candidate will get a majority of votes in a major race, the highest two vote-getters will head to a runoff election on Might 26. You don’t should register with a celebration. However you’ll be able to solely take part in a single get together’s major, and also you’ll solely be capable to vote in that get together’s subsequent runoff election.
What’s on the poll?
Right here’s a fast look on the federal, state and native places of work which can be up for election this 12 months, in accordance with the Texas Secretary of State.
Federal
One U.S. Senator (John Cornyn’s seat)
All U.S. representatives beneath new congressional maps after they have been redrawn in 2025
State (statewide races)
Texas Governor
Lieutenant Governor
Legal professional Normal
Comptroller of Public Accounts
Commissioner of Normal Land Workplace
Commissioner of Agriculture
One Railroad Commissioner (Jim Wright’s seat)
4 members of the Texas Supreme Court docket
Three members of the Court docket of Legal Appeals
Three members of the fifteenth Court docket of Appeals
State (regional district-based races)
Eight members of the State Board of Schooling
Sixteen State Senators for districts
All 150 State Representatives
A number of Chief Justices of Courts of Appeals
Numerous regional Courts of Appeals judges
Decrease-level judges and native county places of work can also seem on the poll, together with:
County Courts at Regulation
Justices of the Peace
District Clerks
County Clerks
County Treasurers
County Surveyors
County Commissioners (precincts 2 and 4)
Numerous district judges, together with on felony and household courts
The place do I’m going to vote?
Throughout early voting, voters can solid ballots at any polling location within the county the place they’re registered to vote. On Election Day, some counties might require you to vote at a location particular to your tackle (precinct), which will be discovered in your voter registration certificates or by checking your registration on-line.
You’ll find an inventory of counties the place voters can vote at any county polling location on Election Day from the Texas secretary of state’s workplace.
Test your county elections web site for early-voting occasions and places and Election Day places. You’ll find yours right here. You may also use the secretary of state’s web site to see polling places, however your county’s data shall be the freshest.
You could wish to contemplate calling election officers, particularly on Election Day, to verify polling places haven’t modified last-minute. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day.
When you’re voting by mail throughout the U.S., your poll should be postmarked by 7 p.m. on Election Day and obtained by your county by 5 p.m. on March 4 to be counted. Learn extra about photograph IDs, registration necessities and mail-in ballots in our voter information right here.
What do I must vote?
You’ll want one among seven forms of legitimate photograph ID to vote in Texas:
A state driver’s license, issued by the Texas Division of Public Security.
A Texas election identification certificates, issued by DPS.
A Texas private identification card issued by DPS.
A Texas license to hold a handgun issued by DPS.
A U.S. navy ID card with a private photograph.
A U.S. citizenship certificates with a private photograph.
A U.S. passport.
When you don’t have an authorised photograph ID, you’ll be able to nonetheless vote by signing a “affordable obstacle” type and presenting legitimate supporting identification paperwork, resembling a beginning certificates, your voter registration certificates or a present utility invoice along with your title and tackle.
When you’re utilizing a state ID or driver’s license, the tackle listed on there doesn’t should match your present tackle. And if you happen to neglect your ID, you’ll be able to solid a provisional poll, which will be counted provided that you present the required photograph ID or paperwork inside six days.
Are there guidelines on the polls?
Cellphones, cameras, computer systems and different units that may report sound or photographs can’t be used inside 100 ft of voting stations (the place ballots are marked). There are normally visitors cones or indicators indicating this. Campaigning, together with carrying clothes or different objects that publicize candidates, political events or measures on the poll, can also be banned past this level.
A brand new legislation additionally bans using wi-fi communication units, like cellphones, in the identical room the place voting is going down. Voters are allowed to make use of written notes to solid their poll on the discretion of election officers, who decide if the fabric counts as campaigning.
Firearms, together with handguns, are additionally prohibited at polling locations, in accordance with Texas legislation.
What if my voter registration is ‘in suspense’?
In case your voter registration reveals up as “in suspense,” it normally signifies that officers should not certain of your tackle. However you should still be capable to vote by filling out a “assertion of residence” on the polls. When you moved and didn’t replace your tackle by the Feb. 2 voter registration deadline, you might be able to vote at your earlier polling location whether it is throughout the similar county or political subdivision, or vote on a restricted poll.
A restricted poll solely contains statewide elections and federal elections for Congress and Texas’ U.S. senator. Until you qualify to vote by mail, a restricted poll is simply out there in-person throughout early voting on the major early voting location, which is normally the workplace of the election administrator or county clerk who runs elections in your county. Contact the elections workplace in your county to use for a restricted poll.
Can I vote in particular person if I requested a mail-in poll?
The brief reply is sure, if you’re in Texas and the county the place you’re registered to vote. The method shall be extra streamlined if you happen to carry your mail-in poll with you to your polling place so you’ll be able to give up it earlier than casting your vote. When you don’t have your poll or by no means obtained it, you’ll be able to nonetheless solid a provisional poll. Your vote shall be counted as soon as the county determines it by no means obtained your mail-in poll.
Voters who have been trying to vote by mail due to a illness or incapacity can also qualify to vote by curbside voting or an emergency poll.
To request an emergency poll, you could designate a consultant to submit an software in particular person in your behalf and have a licensed physician’s be aware. The appliance should be obtained by your county’s early voting clerk earlier than 5 p.m. on Election Day, and your poll should be returned by the identical designated consultant earlier than 7 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.
Contact your county elections workplace to study extra about curbside voting and emergency ballots.
What are my rights as a voter?
If a registered voter’s title doesn’t seem on the checklist of registered voters due to an administrative error, they’ve the suitable to solid a provisional poll.
Voters are entitled to get written directions about the best way to solid a poll or to ask a polling place officer or employee (they can’t ask who or what to vote for).
If a voter makes a mistake whereas marking their poll, they’ve a proper to make use of as much as two further ballots to make corrections.
Voters usually have the suitable to solid their ballots in secret and shouldn’t be topic to intimidation.
Voters with disabilities or restricted English proficiency also can get interpretation, help or different lodging to vote.
A state legislation handed in 2023 additionally permits voters with disabilities or mobility issues to skip the road at their polling location and requires every polling location to have a chosen parking spot for curbside voting.
Texas legislation says voters have the suitable to vote throughout work hours with out being penalized or shedding pay, however these protections might not apply if polls are nonetheless open two hours earlier than or after a employee’s shift.
On Election Day, voters have the suitable to solid their poll so long as they’re in line by 7 p.m. Hours throughout early voting might range.
On the polls, voters can speak to election officers or ballot staff in the event that they run into points.
The secretary of state’s workplace has a helpline at 1-800-252-VOTE (8683) the place state attorneys can be found to help voters and election officers with questions.
A coalition of voting rights teams runs voter safety hotlines in a number of languages. Incapacity Rights Texas additionally affords a helpline for individuals with disabilities.
Disclosure: Texas Secretary of State and Texas Secretary of State have been monetary supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan information group that’s funded partially by donations from members, foundations and company sponsors. Monetary supporters play no position within the Tribune’s journalism. Discover a full checklist of them right here.
This text first appeared on The Texas Tribune.
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