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Your guide to registering to vote in Texas

How do you register to vote? When do you have to register? DMN’s got the answers to all your voting questions.

Find out where you can register to vote and check your eligibility.

If you want to cast a vote on Nov. 5 – or during the early voting period that starts on Oct. 21 – you should make your plan to vote well before then. Voter registration in Texas is a tad more complicated than in other large states.

But no need to worry. We have the answers to all of your lingering questions about voter registration. Take a look below:

Am I eligible to register to vote?

If you are a U.S. citizen, a resident of the county where you submit your voter registration application and not a convicted felon, then yes, you can register.

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Depending on your age, you may also be eligible to vote even if you’re not 18. If you are 17 right now, you can still register if you will be 18 by or on Election Day.

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Can I register to vote and cast my ballot all on Election Day this November?

No. Like we said, you’ll need some planning.

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Some states allow same-day registration, but not Texas. If you want to vote this November, the last day to register is Monday, Oct. 7. Texas requires that all eligible voters register at least 30 days before the election.

To register to vote, you can fill out an application online that you then have to print, sign and mail to your county voter registrar.

You can also request a printed voter registration form. But, it’s important to keep in mind that your registration must be received by your county voter registrar by Oct. 7. To be safe, you may want to register or make sure you are registered at least a few days before that.

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What information do I need to register?

To register, you must include information from your state driver’s license or identification card. If you do not have either, you must provide the final four digits of your Social Security number.

You must also provide your address or information about your area of residency.

If any information you file when you register is false, you could be fined up to $4,000 or face jail time for up to a year.

Can I register to vote when I renew my Texas Driver’s License?

Yes. Registering when you renew, replace or update your Texas Driver’s License or state identification card is one of the easiest times.

When you make any of these changes, you’ll be asked whether you would like to register to vote. It’s an easy and effective way to kill two birds with one stone.

I’m not sure if I’m already registered to vote. How do I check?

If you’re unsure whether you’re already registered, you can check through the My Voter Portal. You will need to input your name, county and date of birth.

My address has changed since the last time I voted. What should I do?

If you check your voter registration and find that your information reflects an old address, you can update it with your new information through the Texas Secretary of State’s office. But to do this, you’ll need to have your current driver’s license or ID, Social Security number and Voter Unique Identifier Number, or VUID, on hand. You can also find your VUID number in the My Voter Portal.

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How do I register to vote if I’m a lifelong Texan?

If you already registered to vote when you got your state driver’s license or identification card, then you’re all set.

But if you haven’t done either you’ll have to register online or request a printed registration form, as noted above.

What if I don’t have a set address?

If you’re moving around or are experiencing homelessness, you may not have a set address. But you can still cast your ballot this fall.

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You don’t have to provide a specific address if you don’t have one. Instead, on the voter registration form, you can describe where you live so that election authorities can assign you a precinct.

To register to vote, you can fill out an application online that you then must print, sign and mail to your Local County Vote Registrar. You can also request a registration form on paper if you prefer. Head to the My Voter Portal to confirm whether you are already registered. If you want to renew, replace or update your driver’s license while registering to vote, head to the Texas Department of Public Safety website.

CORRECTION, 11 a.m., Aug. 2, 2024: Texas residents are not able to register to vote online. They can fill out a form online, but then must print the form, sign it and mail it to their local county office. The process was incorrect in an earlier version of this story.