Editor's note: This article was published in partnership with University of Texas journalism student Arlene Leos.
Early in-person voting in Texas’ primary elections begins Feb. 17 and lasts until Feb. 27.
Early voting gives registered voters the opportunity to cast their ballots before primary election day March 3.
Keep reading for details on how Texas' primary process works, what's on the ballot and what voters can bring to the polls. For more details about the contested races on local ballots and over 100 Q&As with candidates, visit communityimpact.com/voter-guide.
How it works
Texas has an open primary system, where voters decide at the polling place whether to cast ballots in the Democratic or Republican primary. Voters may not participate in both primaries, and those who signed petitions for Libertarian or Green party candidates are not eligible to vote in a primary, according to the secretary of state.
Voters will be given a ballot with a slate of statewide seats and other races determined by the voting precinct they live in. During early voting, registered voters can visit any polling location within their county of residence. Voters can search for polling locations through the state voter portal or contact their local election office. The deadline to register to vote in the March primaries was Feb. 2.
Candidates who win their primaries will represent their party in the midterm election Nov. 3.
If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, the two highest vote-getters will face each other in a May 26 runoff election. Primary voters are not required to vote in runoff elections, although they may not switch parties if they participate in both.
Early voting gives voters an 11-day period to visit the polls before election day, which can lead to shorter lines.
On the ballot
Depending on where they live, some Texas voters will see local races, such as county commissioners and justices of the peace, on the primary ballot.
All of Texas’ 150 state House seats and 16 of 31 state Senate seats are up for election this year. Eight of Texas’ 15 State Board of Education seats are also up for election.
Texas’ 38 congressional seats will also appear on the ballot. Many Texans may see new congressional representation in 2027, previous Community Impact reporting shows: Several members of Texas’ congressional delegation are not seeking re-election, and 37 of the state’s 38 congressional districts were redrawn in 2025.
The following statewide races will appear on all Texas voters’ ballots:
- One U.S. Senate seat
- Governor
- Lieutenant governor
- State attorney general
- State comptroller
- State land commissioner
- State agriculture commissioner
- One railroad commissioner
- Four state Supreme Court justices
- Three judges on the state Court of Criminal Appeals
- Three justices on Texas’ 15th Court of Appeals
Visit
communityimpact.com/voter-guide for more information.
Voters will also see nonbinding propositions at the bottom of their ballot. Party propositions are used to gauge voters’ opinions on certain topics and do not create new policies or laws, according to the ballot text. A list of propositions appearing on the Democratic primary ballot is available here, and Republican primary propositions are listed here.
Why it matters
Voter advocacy groups and experts told Community Impact that a vote in the March primaries is “the most impactful vote” Texans can cast, due to consistently low voter turnout and competition in certain races. Data shows that 146 of Texas’ 150 state House races were effectively decided during the 2022 primaries, with just four competitive seats during that year’s midterm election.
“When primary voter turnout is so small, when only a fraction of voters are voting, your vote counts more,” said Mark Strama, who leads the Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life at The University of Texas. “Your ability to influence the election is much greater in a low-turnout election. So everyone should take advantage of the opportunity to put their thumb on the scale and try to get representation that they can point with pride to.”
Over 18 million Texans are registered to vote, per the secretary of state, although about one-fifth of registered voters participated in recent primary elections.
Dates to know
- Feb 17: early in-person voting begins
- Feb 20: last day to apply to vote by mail
- Feb 27: early voting ends
- March 3: primary election day
At the pollsVoters must bring one of seven forms of identification to the polls:
- A Texas driver license (issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety)
- A Texas personal ID card (issued by the DPS)
- A Texas handgun license (issued by the DPS)
- A Texas election ID certificate (issued by the DPS)
- A U.S. military ID card with the voter’s photograph
- A U.S. citizenship certificate with the voter’s photograph
- A U.S. passport
Texans without an approved ID can sign a “reasonable impediment declaration” at the polls and present an alternative form of identification, such as a birth certificate, a current utility bill or a paycheck. More information about voter ID requirements is available at
votetexas.gov.
Voters may bring written materials, such as notes and sample ballots, to the polls to help them cast their votes, according to the secretary of state’s office.
Texans cannot post or distribute written materials within 100 feet of an entrance to a polling place, as this is considered campaigning or electioneering. Guns and wireless devices such as cellphones, tablets and smart watches are not allowed at polling places.
Voting by mail
Registered voters who plan to vote by mail must ensure their county elections office receives their application by Feb. 20. Eligible voters can submit their applications in person, by mail, by email or by fax.
To vote by mail in Texas, individuals must be at least one of the following:
- 65 years or older
- Sick or disabled
- Expecting to give birth within three weeks before or after election day
- Living outside their county of residence from Feb. 17-March 3 (including college students)
- Civilly committed under Chapter 841 of the Texas Health and Safety Code
- Confined in jail but otherwise eligible to vote
Recent changes to the U.S. Postal Service’s rules mean that mail, including applications to vote by mail and mail-in ballots, may be postmarked days after being dropped in a mailbox,
Community Impact previously reported.
Something to note
Third-party candidates will not be listed on the March primary ballots. Texas’ Libertarian and Green parties are scheduled to hold nominating conventions in April to determine who will represent their parties on the November ballot. Independent candidates were required to submit paperwork declaring their intent to run for office by Dec. 8 and have until June 25 to file an official candidate application for the November election, according to the secretary of state.
