Voting is the process that enables you to have a say on the issues and officials that most affect your life. Your participation in this process is vital to maintaining a democracy "of the people, by the people, and for the people" and distinguishes the United States from every other country. It is a right you should exercise at every available opportunity, because you are helping to determine how we live and what our future will be.

You must be a U.S. citizen and a resident of Texas to vote in Texas.

No. Once you register to vote, you shouldn't have to register again, so long as you don't move out of the county where you were first registered.

The Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 14, creating a new photo voter identification requirement for voter qualification in all elections in Texas beginning January 1, 2012. This advisory is intended as an overview of the new requirement. Additional information and forms are forthcoming. The new law requires all voters to present one of the following forms of photo identification in order to be eligible to vote:

Driver's license, election identification certificate, personal identification card, or concealed handgun license issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety; United States Military identification card containing the person's photograph; United States citizenship certificate containing the person's photograph; or United States passport.

With the exception of the U.S. citizenship certificate, the identification must be current or have expired no more than 60 days before being presented for voter qualification at the polling place.

There are several exemptions to the photo voter identification requirement. Voters with a disability may apply with the county voter registrar for an exemption. Pursuant to Senate Bill 14, the exemption application, which our office will prescribe, must contain written documentation from either the U.S. Social Security Administration evidencing the applicant's disability, or from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs evidencing a disability rating of at least 50 percent. In addition, the applicant must state that he or she has no valid form of photo identification. Those who obtain a disability exemption will be allowed to vote by presenting a voter registration certificate reflecting the exemption.

Other exemptions include voters who have a consistent religious objection to being photographed and voters who do not have any photo identification as a result of certain natural disasters as declared by the President of the United States or the Texas Governor. These voters may cast a provisional ballot at the polls and must sign an affidavit attesting to those facts in the presence of the county voter registrar within six days of the election date.

Finally, the new law creates a "cure period" for voters who cast a provisional ballot without presenting a valid form of photo identification. These voters have up to six days after the election to present to the county voter registrar appropriate photo identification. Once this and all other requirements are met, then the provisional ballot must be accepted. You can read more at http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/laws/advisory2011-10.shtml

You may register if you are at least 17 years and 10 months of age. However, you must be at least 18 years old on or before the day of the election.

No, though when you vote in a primary election, your vote will determine your party affiliation for the rest of the year.

You may register in person to vote at your County Voter Registration office, County Driver License office, public library, the Office of the Secretary of State of Texas, and at get-out-the-vote rallies at special locations.

To vote in an upcoming election, your properly completed voter registration form must be postmarked thirty (30) days before the upcoming election to be valid.

Contact your County Voter Registration Office for information specific to your situation. In addition, you can check online: HERE - To confirm your voter registration status, you may select one of three methods: search by: 1. your Voter Unique Identifier (VUID), 2. your Texas driver's license number; or 3. your first and last name.

Yes.

You must complete a Texas Voter Registration application, though in some cases, you can change your information online.

Any registered voter may vote early in person. To vote early by mail, you must first complete an application for ballot by mail.

To be eligible to vote early by mail in Texas, you must:

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

You may open this form (PDF, 41kb), print the application, fill in the information, sign and date it. You will then put it in an envelope, add postage, and mail to the Early Voting Clerk in your county.

OR

You may also request an application for Ballot by Mail online , and not later than the next working day, an application for ballot by mail will be mailed to you. You must mail the application to early voting clerk of the authority conducting the election.

You will vote in the precinct in which you are registered.

Early Voting Polling Places

Election Day Polling Places