Civic Engagement, Elections, and Voting: FAQ

According to USA.gov, you can vote in U.S. federal, state, and local elections if you:

-Are a U.S. citizen (some areas allow non-citizens to vote in local elections only)

-Meet your state’s residency requirements; You can be experiencing homelessness and still meet these requirements.

-Are 18 years old on or before Election Day. (In almost every state, you can register to vote before you turn 18 if you will be 18 by Election Day and that includes Texas.)

-20 U.S. states and the Washington District of Columbia allow 17-year-olds who will be 18 by or on Election Day to VOTE in Primary Elections (also known as primaries). [Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, & West Virginia]. [(a href="https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/voting-age-for-primary-elections">Source]

-Are registered to vote by your state's voter registration deadline. (North Dakota does not require voter registration.)

[Source]

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According to Texas government sources, you are eligible if:

-You are a United States citizen;

-You are a resident of the county where you submit the application;

-You are at least 17 years and 10 months old on the date your voter registration application is submitted, and you are 18 years of age on Election Day.

-You are not a convicted felon (you may be eligible to vote if you have completed your sentence, probation, and parole); and

-You have not been declared by a court exercising probate jurisdiction to be either totally mentally incapacitated or partially mentally incapacitated without the right to vote (VoteTexas).

[Source 1, Source 2]

State of Texas residents: Visit the My Voter Portal at the Texas Secretary of State online to check your voter status: Am I registered? You can also call Harris County Election Services at 713-755-5792.

If you intend to vote in another state, check out this information from USA.gov.

Harris County residents: Obtain a Voter Registration Application by these convenient ways:

-You can pick-up an application at HCC library locations, U.S. Postal offices, public libraries, high schools, Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) sites, Texas Health and Human Services Commission locations and other government offices.

-Visit any Harris County Tax Office location and submit your completed, signed form from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Their locations can be found here.

-Download and print an application in English on the SOS site, Spanish, Vietnamese, or Chinese.

-Request a mailed paper application while online from the Texas Secretary of State.

-Request an application via e-mail at voters@tax.hctx.net, and their office will mail a paper application to you. Please provide a mailing address and phone number in your email. (Harris County Tax Office)

-Call 713-274-VOTE (8683) to be assisted in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, or Chinese.

-Texan residents outside of Harris County should check VoteTexas to find out how to register and vote.

-Out-of-state college students currently attending school in Texas should check the Out of State College Student Voting Guide or call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683) for assistance with where, how, and when to register and cast your ballot!

[Source]

State of Texas residents:To vote at the polling station, you must bring a valid ID. Qualifying forms of ID include Texas Drivers License, , Texas Personal ID Card, Texas Handgun License, U.S. Citizenship Certificate with Photo, U.S. Military ID Card, U.S. Passport (Book or Card). You can locate the Identification Requirements for voting at VoteTexas.gov

Voters who do not possess and cannot reasonably obtain one of the seven approved forms of photo ID may fill out a Reasonable Impediment Declaration (RID) (PDF) at the polls and present an alternative form of ID, such as a utility bill, bank statement, government check, or a voter registration certificate.

Harris County residents, find your nearest or most convenient Harris County, TX Vote Center at https://www.harrisvotes.com/Vote-Centers.

Harris County, TX voters are no longer restricted to an assigned Vote Center and can choose from any Vote Center in Harris County.

Texan residents outside of Harris County should check VoteTexas to find out where to register and vote.

The next U.S. General (Presidential) Election takes place Tuesday November 5, 2024, however, there are other options such as Early Voting and Mail by Ballot for those who qualify. See the other Important Dates at the on the VOTING FALL 2024 page.

To visit in-person, 1001 Preston St., 2nd Floor, Houston, TX 77002

To contact by telephone: (713) 755-6965 or (713) 274-8200

To contact by email: voters@harrisvotes.com

To contact by email regarding accessibility issues: ADA@vote.hctx.net

There are lots of ways to get involved. You can volunteer or work for political campaigns or advocacy groups; write letters, make phone calls, inform voters, and many other things. Check out our Getting Involved page.