Your Rights as a Texas Voter

GENERAL

• Vote in all elections held in your jurisdiction.

• Vote for as many races on your ballot as you choose. You do not have to cast a vote in every race.

• Vote however you choose. It is a crime for someone to pressure or influence you while you  are voting (either on a mail ballot or in the polling place).

• Vote if you are not currently incarcerated for a felony conviction and have registered as a voter after your sentence is fully discharged or after you have been pardoned.

• Vote your ballot by yourself, in secret.

• Maintain control of your mail ballot. It is a crime for someone to take your mail ballot from you, unless you are physically incapable of mailing your own ballot and you request assistance.

• Follow up ANY challenge to your right to vote through the complaint process.

IN-PERSON VOTING

• Cast your ballot in a manner that ensures privacy, in a booth that prevents others from watching you mark your ballot.

• Vote without any person trying to influence your vote.

• Stay in the voting booth for as long as necessary to complete your ballot.

• Receive up to two replacement ballots if you make a mistake and spoil your ballot before you cast your ballot.

• Request assistance when voting from a poll worker or anyone of your choice except your employer, or an officer of your union or their representatives.

• Vote, but must show one of the acceptable forms of ID.

• Cast a provisional ballot if you believe you are a qualified registered voter but a poll worker tells you that you are ineligible to vote.

• Take handwritten or printed papers, including a sample ballot, voters guide, or campaign material, into the voting booth with you. Please remove all papers when you leave the booth. You may not use a cell phone or other electronic device in a polling place.

• Bring your children into the voting booth with you.

• Vote on Election Day any time between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. for state and federal elections – hours may vary for local elections. If you are in line at the polling place when polls close at 7 p.m., you have the right to vote.

IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE

• Choose someone you trust to help you if you cannot fill out your ballot yourself (except your employer, or an officer of your union or their representatives).

• Have assistance from someone you trust if you cannot read or write.

• Bring an interpreter with you who can translate.

• Inspect your ballot for accuracy (if you allow a person to assist you with reading and marking your ballot).

• Vote if you are disabled. The polling place must be accessible, and there must be an accessible voting booth.

• Request curbside voting.