Tips for early voting in Texas

Election Day in Texas March 3, but that isn’t your only opportunity to vote. Early voting takes place in the Lone Star State from Feb. 18 to Feb. 28.

Before you vote:

To vote in Texas, you must be registered. You can check your voter registration status with the Texas secretary of state’s office here.

What to bring:

At the polling site, you must present one of the following to cast your vote:

· Texas Driver License issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)

· Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS

· Texas Personal Identification Card issued by DPS

· Texas Handgun License issued by DPS

· U.S. Military Identification Card with photograph

· U.S. Citizenship Certificate with photograph

· U.S. Passport

If you don’t have one of these, here are supporting forms of ID.

· Copy or original of a government document that shows the voter’s name and an address, including the voter’s voter registration certificate;

· Copy of or original current utility bill

· Copy of or original bank statement

· Copy of or original government check

· Copy of or original paycheck

· Copy of or original of a certified domestic birth certificate or a document confirming birth admissible in a court of law.

How to vote by mail:

If you meet any of the criteria below, you are eligible to vote early by mail.

· You will be away from your county on Election Day and during early voting

· You are sick or disabled

· You are 65 years of age or older on Election Day

· You are confined in jail, but eligible to vote

The deadline to submit an application for ballot by mail is 11 days before Election Day. Visit the Texas secretary of state’s office here for details.