To vote by mail in Texas, you must meet the eligibility requirements and request an Application for Ballot By Mail (ABBM) from your County Elections Department. See LWVRichardson's website for more information.

1. Download an Application for Ballot By Mail (ABBM) or request an ABBM from the Texas Secretary of State's office  or your County Elections Department.                          
2. You MUST provide one (1) of two (2) ID numbers: either (1) Texas Driver's License Number, Texas Person Identification Number, or Election Identification Certificate Number  -OR-  (2) last 4 digits of your social security number.  LWVRichardson strongly encourages that you to include both numbers on your ABBM.  The ID number on the ABBM must match the ID number(s) you put on your voter registration form when you registered to vote.
3. Return your completed ABBM to the Early Voting Clerk at your County Elections Department.  You may return your ABBM in-person, by mail, by fax, or by email.  See  Dallas County Elections Department or Collin County Elections Department for details.
4. The form requires your original signature signed and dated in ink.

• for all elections in the calendar year (an Annual Application).  For 2026, this will include a ballot to vote in the March 3rd Primary Election, the May 2nd Local Election, the May 26th Primary Runoff Election, and the November 3, 2026 Federal Election.  In order to be sent the correct ballot for the Primary and Primary Runoff Elections, you must designate if you want a ballot for the Democratic Primary or the Republican Primary.  You may also opt out of receiving a ballot for the Primary Election.
• * To claim Disability as your reason for voting by mail, you must check a box that affirms you have "a sickness or physical condition that prevents me from appearing at the polling place on Election Day without a likelihood of needing personal assistance or injuring my health," as defined in Texas Election Code 82.002(a).

• for any of the following elections:  May Election, November Election, any resulting runoff, Special Election, Democratic Party Primary, or Republican Party Primary or a Party Primary Runoff
• * If you check that you will be absent from the county, you must provide (1) an address outside the county to which the ballot will be mailed and (2) the dates which you may receive mail at that address outside the county..

• use a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) to register to vote or request an absentee ballot. Find voting assistance at https://www.fvap.gov/texas. 

• The first day to file for a place on the May 2nd General Election Ballot is Wednesday, January 14, 2026.
• The last day to file for a place on the May 2nd General Election Ballot is 5:00pm on Friday, February 13, 2026.
• Candidates wanting to file for a Place on the May 2nd General Election Ballot must be registered to vote (or update their voter registration) by Tuesday, January 13, 2026.