What is the deadline to register to vote for the Nov. 7 election?
Tuesday, Oct. 10
What are the requirements?
You must be:
- a United States citizen;
- a resident of the county in which you submit the application;
- at least 17 years and 10 months of age;
- not a convicted felon (unless you have completed your sentence including any incarceration, probation or parole); and
- not have been declared by a court to be either totally mentally incapacitated or partially mentally incapacitated without the right to vote.
How do I know if I am already registered?
You can check your registration status on Harris County's or the Texas Secretary of State's website.
What if I have moved since registering?
If you have moved within Harris County, you can change your address online here. You will need your current ID card, social security number and voter registration card VUID number on hand.
If you have moved to a new county, you must complete a new voter registration application here and mail it into your new county's voter registrar. You can find out who your new county’s voter registrar is here.
How do I register if I am not already registered?
You can register at least 30 days before Election Day in person by submitting a signed application at any Harris County Tax Office location from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Citizens can also download and print an application in English, Spanish, Vietnamese or Chinese and mail the signed application to:
Ann Harris Bennett
Tax Assessor-Collector & Voter Registrar
PO Box 3527
Houston, Texas 77253-3527
Applications can also be picked up at local U.S. Postal offices, libraries, high schools, Texas Department of Public Safety sites and other government offices. Call 713-274-8683 for assistance in English, Spanish, Vietnamese or Chinese.
What kind of identification will I need when I go to vote?
The following forms of photo identification can be used when voting:
- Texas Driver's License, current or expired no more than four years;
- Texas personal identification card, current or expired no more than four years;
- Texas Election Identification Certificate, current or expired no more than four years;
- S. military identification card, current or expired no more than four years;
- Texas license to carry, current or expired no more than four years;
- S. passport, current or expired no more than four years; or
- S. citizenship certificate containing a photo.
- If you do not possess one of these documents, you can fill out a declaration at the polls explaining why not and bring one of these supporting documents to prove your identity:
- valid voter registration certificate;
- certified birth certificate, must be an original);
- copy of or original bank statement;
- copy of or original government check or paycheck;
- copy of or original current utility bill; and
- copy of or original government document with your name and address (an original will be required if it contains a photograph).
If you have neither an accepted photo ID nor a supporting document, you will be allowed to vote provisionally. In this case, you will have six days following the election to bring an acceptable document to the voter registrar.
Voters with documented disabilities who have not obtained one of the approved photo IDs can apply with the county voter registrar for a permanent exemption to the rule.
What if I am displaced after Hurricane Harvey?
Harris County Clerk Stan Stanart has advised displaced voters to vote during the early voting period, Oct. 23-Nov. 3. There will be 45 early voting sites across the county, and voters can cast their ballot at any of these. If unable to vote in-person during this time, eligible voters have the following options:
- Displaced voters within the county who are at least 65 years old or disabled may request to vote by mail by submitting an application to the County Clerk’s office no later than Friday, Oct. 27.
- Displaced voters who are relocated can also request to vote by mail from the early voting clerk of their home county. The voter must indicate on the form that they will be out of their home county during the early voting period and on Election Day. In this case, voters must provide a mailing address outside their home county by Friday, Oct. 27.
- Displaced voters relocated outside of their home county may also vote a limited ballot in their new county during the early voting period.
- Displaced voters can also register to vote in their new county by Oct. 10.
For additional information, visit www.harrisvotes.com or call 713-755-6965.
