All U.S. citizens who will be over age 18 as of election day March 1 are eligible to vote in the state primaries in the county where they live, excluding some felons and those legally declared to be mentally incapacitated.
While Texas is one of the few states that do not allow online voter registration, Texans may begin the process virtually before submitting their paper materials. For first-time registration, residents may either fill out the secretary of state's online registration form to print and mail to their local elections office, or request that a registration form be mailed to their address to complete and mail free of charge. Texans may also visit their local voter registration office in person to complete the process. Anyone already registered to vote but who recently moved or changed their name may update their registration details online.
Ahead of the January registration deadline, Secretary of State John Scott said his office is working to provide the needed resources to allow those eligible to register statewide.
"Every year, the secretary of state’s office voluntarily provides voter registration applications to numerous entities, including county election offices, county clerks, public libraries, high school principals and others. This is in an effort to reach and register as many eligible Texas voters as possible and assist them in exercising their constitutional right to vote. While we are not legally required to do so, we do this as a courtesy to Texas voters and those organizations helping eligible Texans register to vote," Scott said in a statement. "I want to make one thing clear: Every single eligible Texas voter will be able to register to vote if they have not done so already."
However, some Texas elections officials have called attention this month to challenges and confusion related to the voter registration process under new rules passed into law through the controversial voting package Senate Bill 1. Reported issues statewide include abnormally high rejection rates of voter registration forms, which local officials linked to SB 1, and a reported paper shortage limiting access to registration materials in some places.
Early voting in the March primaries, featuring races at the local, state and federal levels, will run from Feb. 14-25. More information on voter registration and voting in the March elections may be found through the secretary of state's website or by calling 800-252-8683.
