Learn
Lead
Connect
Learn
understand the Midterms
Get ready to vote
resources
Lead
get started
connect
Get involved
Stay connected
Texas has specific rules for voting by mail. The application deadline to vote by mail is October 23. Everything you need to know is below.
Start here
Texas does not have universal mail voting. You must meet at least one of these criteria to request a mail ballot.
Any registered voter who is 65 years of age or older on Election Day.
If a sickness or disability prevents you from voting in person without personal assistance or risk of injury to your health.
If you will be outside your county of residence during the entire early voting period and on Election Day.
If you expect to give birth within three weeks before or after Election Day.
If you are in jail but are otherwise eligible to vote (i.e. not convicted of a felony).
If you are civilly committed under Chapter 841 of the Texas Health and Safety Code.
The process
Step 1
Apply by October 23. In order to vote by mail you have to request a ballot first. The easiest way is online at VoteTexas.gov.
"October 23" means received, not postmarked
Your application has to arrive at your county clerk's office by close of business October 23. You can hand-deliver the application to the county clerk's office or mail it. If you use mail, send no later than October 19th and fax/email a scanned copy of your application to your county clerk's office by October 23.
Ways to get and submit an application:
Address your application to the Early Voting Clerk in your county, not just the general election office. Applications sent to the wrong address can be rejected. Use the County Directory finder to confirm where it goes.
Step 2
Your ballot arrives in the mail. Fill it out in black or blue pen, seal it in the ballot envelope, then seal that inside the carrier envelope and sign the flap.
The number one reason ballots get rejected: the ID number is missing on the carrier envelope
Texas law (SB 1) requires your ID number is written on the carrier envelope (the envelope that the ballot and ballot envelope are placed inside of to mail or hand in to the county clerk). There is a place to write your ID number under the seal flap. It's easy to miss! Lift the flap before you seal it, fill in the same ID number you used on your application, and double-check it matches. Blank or mismatched means your ballot gets flagged.
Marking the ballot:
On the carrier envelope (the outer one):
If someone helped you complete or witness your ballot, they must fill out their information on the carrier envelope. And if anyone from a campaign or political organization offers to handle your ballot, decline. Ballots returned from a campaign address get rejected. Only accept help from someone you personally trust.
Step 3
The safest way is to hand-deliver it to your county elections office on Election Day (November 3), 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with a photo ID. Mail ballots cannot be dropped at early voting locations.
If you mail it, it must be postmarked by 7 p.m. November 3 and received by 5 p.m. November 4.
Mail your ballot early
Changes to USPS in 2025 led to local post offices having one pickup per day instead of two. Postmarks are made at regional processing centers, so a ballot dropped in a blue box or at a local post office may not get postmarked until the next day. If you mail close to the deadline, take it inside a USPS regional processing center and ask staff to hand-stamp it at the counter.
You can return your ballot by:
Troubleshooting
Applied but never received your ballot? Got a rejection notice?
Check the ballot tracker: The Texas Ballot by Mail Tracker shows whether your application or ballot was flagged, and often lets you fix the problem online. Correction deadline: October 23 for an application issue, November 9 for a rejected ballot.
You can still vote with a provisional ballot at a polling place. The county will verify that that they did not receive a mailed ballot from you. Once confirmed, your provisional ballot counts.
Many mail voters are elderly, disabled, or sick, which is exactly why they applied. If reaching any polling place isn't possible, ask your county elections office about curbside voting or an emergency ballot. Find your county elections office.
Common Questions
Information about the mail ballot process in Texas.
Yes, you must apply for a mail ballot for every election. However, if you are 65 or older or disabled, you can check "Annual Application" to receive ballots for all elections in that calendar year. Texas law no longer automatically sends ballots year after year after the first application.
Generally, your ballot is mailed to your registered address. If you are 65 or older or have a physical disability, it can be sent to a hospital, nursing home, long-term care facility, retirement center, or a relative, but you must indicate which on the form. If your reason for voting by mail is absence from the county, the ballot must be mailed to an address outside your county.
Yes. Bring your mail ballot and carrier envelope to a polling place and you'll be allowed to vote a regular ballot after surrendering the mail materials. If you can't bring them, you may vote a provisional ballot.
Military and overseas voters use a different process, the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA), which covers both registration and the ballot request in one form. Visit VoteTexas.gov for the full guide.
Never. Midterms Matter is a nonpartisan civic education initiative. We don't support or oppose any candidate, party, or political position. This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
