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TCC Votes: Casting a Ballot

Information about how to register to vote, what's on the ballot, eligibility, ID requirements, and more.

How and Where to Cast a Ballot

Important Dates

  • Last day to register to vote: Thursday, April 1, 2021
  • First day of early voting by personal appearance: Monday, April 19, 2021.
  • Last Day to Apply for Ballot by Mail (application Received by county elections office, not Postmarked): Tuesday, April 20, 2021.
  • Last day of early voting by personal appearance: Tuesday, April 27, 2021.
  • Last day to Receive Ballot by Mail: Saturday, May 1, 2021 (election day) at 7:00 p.m. 
  • Election Day: Saturday, May 1, 2021
  • Early voting: Texas allows in-person early voting for the general election from April 19 to April 27, 2021.
  • Important election deadlines and information

Absentee voting

Opening/closing dates

  • Ballots by mail can be requested and approved by the county Early Voting Clerk beginning January 1st each year.
  • Applications for ballot by mail for the May 1, 2021 joint election will be available on January 1, 2021 and will not be accepted after Tuesday, April 20, 2021.
  • A ballot by mail for the May 1, 2021 joint election is due to the Early Voting Clerk by Saturday, May 1, 2021 (election day) at 7:00 p.m

Military voters and voters who reside outside the U.S.

  • Military and overseas voters can use the Federal Postcard Application (FPCA) to apply for an absentee ballot by mail (must be received by the county Early Voting Clerk no later than 7 days before the election). They will then receive a hard copy or emailed, printable ballot which must be filled and returned by mail by 7:00 p.m. on election day, or 5 days after election day for overseas voters.

Who is eligible to use an absentee ballot?

You may apply for and receive an absentee ballot if you are:

  • 65 years or older,
  • disabled,
  • out of the county on election day and during the period for early voting by personal appearance, or
  • confined in jail, but otherwise eligible to vote

Application for Absentee Ballot (English).

County Early Voting Clerk directory

Polling places and hours

  • Use the Am I Registered? site to find your early voting or election day voting place.
  • On election day, polls in Texas are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • You may also contact your Early Voting Clerk for State and County Elections for polling hours and locations.
  • Time off to vote: If an employee has not voted early and does not have at least two consecutive hours in which to vote outside working hours, the employee is entitled to take paid time off for voting on election days.

Rides to the polls

Many organizations offer free rides to polling places. Some of these include:

  • Lyft provides free or discounted rides in some underserved communities
  • Political parties sometimes arrange rides for voters. Contact the local office:

Help for voters with disabilities

  • Disability Rights Texas runs events and programs for facilitating voting for disabled voters in Texas.
  • If you have a disability, you may be able to vote by mail by submitting the Application for a Ballot by Mail to your county Early Voting Clerk anytime from the 60th to the 11th day before Election Day.
  • Curbside voting, accessible voting equipment, and personal assistance, including interpreters, are available at most polling places and by contacting local elections officers.

For more information regarding voters with disabilities, please visit the Texas Secretary of State website.

Ballots

Where to get more info on candidates

Sample ballots