By Jennifer Dorsett
Field Editor

Make sure your voice is heard by completing your voter registration.

In Texas, the last day to register to vote for 2020 primary elections is Feb. 3. The primaries will take place on March 3.

Along with 14 other states, on what is known as “Super Tuesday,” Texans will vote in either the Republican or Democratic primary. Voters will choose each party’s candidates for U.S. president, U.S. Senate, congressional and legislative offices, the State Board of Education, the Railroad Commission and judicial seats.

Information on all candidates who have filed to run for public office in the primary elections is available on the Texas Tribune.

Potential voters must be registered to cast a ballot.

To register to vote, you must meet the following requirements:

  • be a U.S. citizen, be a resident of the county where you submit the application,
  • be at least 18 years old on Election Day,
  • not be a convicted felon (you may be eligible to vote if you have completed your sentence, probation and parole) and
  • have not been declared by a court exercising probate jurisdiction to be either totally mentally incapacitated or partially mentally incapacitated without the right to vote.

Voter registration applications are available on votetexas.gov and at local election offices.

On the website, Texans can also find out whether they are already registered to vote.

Early voting for the primaries begins Feb. 18 and will end Feb. 28.

If no one candidate receives a majority of the vote in the primary election, the top two candidates will compete in a primary runoff May 26. Voters may only vote in the same party’s runoff as they originally selected in the primary elections.

In the general election later this year, voters can vote for either party’s candidates. Under a new law that takes effect in 2020, Texas will no longer offer “straight-ticket voting.” Previously, a voter could cast a ballot for every candidate in a political party without having to manually vote in each race. That practice has been discontinued.

Polling times and locations vary by county and are available on votetexas.gov.

Voters are required to have an approved form of photo identification.

Accepted IDs include:

  • a Texas driver license issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety,
  • a Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS,
  • a Texas personal ID card issued by DPS,
  • a U.S. military ID card with the person’s photo,
  • a U.S. citizenship certificate with the person’s photo or
  • a U.S. passport.

Except for a U.S. citizenship certificate, the ID must be current or have expired no more than four years prior to the election.

For more information on election dates, times and locations, contact your county election office.