The primary election in Texas is only a day away and voters will choose candidates for U.S. Senate, governor, attorney general and representatives in all 38 House seats, plus other state elections. Here’s what to know.
Where do I vote?
You can find your designated polling site by visiting the secretary of state’s My Voter portal and entering your address. You can also confirm that you’re registered to vote in the portal.
You can also reach out to your local elections officials using this site.
When are polls open?
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time Tuesday, including in the state’s Mountain time counties.
Is it too late to vote by mail?
In Texas, you can vote early by mail only if you have a valid reason for doing so. Those reasons include being out of the county during early voting and on Election Day, having a disability or being in jail. You can see the full list of circumstances here.
The deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot has passed. But if you’ve already applied for one, you are still able to mail your ballot in before 7 p.m. on Election Day.
If you have already received a mail-in ballot, read how to fill it out and send it here.
Who is allowed at polling stations? Could Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers show up?
Texas has strict rules about who can visit a polling station if they are not voting. Unauthorized people at the polls must stay 100 feet away from the building. If federal immigration agents show up, they must maintain that distance.
That said, The Hill reported this week that the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, told election officials that immigration agents will not be stationed at polling sites this year.
What if I’m in line when polls close?
You will be able to vote if you’re in line when polls close.
Do I need identification?
Yes, you need a government-issued ID. If you don’t have one, bring a supporting form of ID to your polling place and speak with an election official about filling out a reasonable impediment declaration to cast a provisional ballot.
If you have an ID but forgot it at home, you must retrieve it before voting. You will still be able to cast a provisional ballot, but it could be rejected. Read more here.
Do I need to be registered with a certain political party?
No, you don’t have to register with a party, but you can participate in only one party’s primary. The party whose primary you vote in will be affiliated with you for the calendar year, so if there is a runoff, you will only be able to vote in that party’s election.
How do I confirm my vote after it’s been cast?
If you voted by mail, you can check the status of your ballot using the state’s ballot-by-mail tracker. Otherwise, you can contact or visit the website of your county’s election office to see if they have posted an election roster.
What is the likelihood of a runoff? And if there is one, when will it be held?
With several competitive candidates running for Senate this year, a runoff is very likely. If there is one, it would happen May 26. And remember: You will only be able to participate in the runoff of the party you voted with in the primary election.
Taylor Robinson is a Times reporter covering the New York City metro area.
The post How to Vote in the March 3 Primary in Texas appeared first on New York Times.
