Texas voters face crowded midterms and strict ID rules on Nov. 3
Polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for a ballot that includes the governor's race and all 38 House seats.
By Arjun Weber ·
Texans must vote by 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3, to cast their ballots in the midterms. The state’s secretary of state’s office confirmed that polling places will remain open for 12 hours on Election Day. This is the final window for citizens to participate in the election, which features dozens of federal, state, and local contests.
The ballot includes the race for governor, where Republican incumbent Greg Abbott faces Democrat Gina Hinojosa and Libertarian Pat Dixon. Voters will also choose the next U.S. senator and all 38 members of the U.S. House of Representatives. These House seats are being contested for the first time since state lawmakers redrew the boundaries last year. Statewide races also include the lieutenant governor, attorney general, comptroller, land commissioner, agriculture commissioner, and railroad commissioner.
State law requires voters to bring one of seven specific forms of identification to the polls. Acceptable documents include a Texas driver's license, a personal ID card, a handgun license, an election ID certificate, a U.S. military ID, a citizenship certificate, or a passport. If a voter lacks proper ID, they may sign a reasonable impediment declaration and present an alternate document such as a birth certificate or a utility bill. Those who cast a provisional ballot due to ID issues must return to their local voter registrar’s office by Nov. 9 to present acceptable identification.
Voting is managed at the county level, but rules vary by location. In counties such as Dallas, Harris, and Travis, residents may vote at any local polling site within the county. In other areas, voters must go to their assigned precinct. Each polling location must provide at least one parking space for curbside voting for individuals with physical disabilities. The registration deadline for this election was Oct. 5, and more than 4.5 million Texans voted during the first week of early voting.
Secretary of State Robert Howden stated in an Oct. 27 release that every election in Texas undergoes a proven audit process. He emphasized that election officials are working to ensure every eligible vote is counted. More than 19 million people are currently registered to vote in the state. Republicans hold all statewide seats currently on the ballot, and no Democrat or third-party candidate has won a statewide office in Texas since 1994.
Voters may bring written materials like notes and sample ballots to the polls. However, guns and wireless devices, including cellphones and smartwatches, are prohibited inside polling places. Electioneering is also banned within 100 feet of the entrance. For those eligible for mail-in voting, such as voters age 65 or older or those out of county, ballots must be postmarked by 7 p.m. on Nov. 3. The deadline to request these ballots was Oct. 23.
