Texas: Election Tools, Deadlines, Dates, Rules, and Links

Texas absentee ballots

• Absentee ballot application deadlines

  • In Person: Received 11 days before Election Day.
  • By Mail: Received 11 days before Election Day
  • Online: N/A

• Voted absentee ballots are due

  Postmarked by 7pm on Election Day and received by 5pm the day after Election Day (except for ballots cast from an address outside the US, which must be postmarked by 7pm on Election Day and received no later than 5 days after Election Day).

• Absentee ballot rules

  You may vote by absentee ballot in Texas if:

  • You are 65 years or older.
  • You have a disability.
  • You are expected to give birth within three weeks before or after Election Day.
  • You will be out of the county on Election Day and during the period for early voting by personal appearance.
  • You are confined in jail or in involuntary civil commitment. 

• How to get an absentee ballot in Texas

  1. Use our Absentee Ballot Tool to prepare your application.
  2. Sign and date the form. This is very important!
  3. Return your completed application to your Local Election Office as soon as possible. We'll provide the mailing address for you.
  4. All Local Election Offices will accept mailed or hand-delivered forms. If you fax or e-mail your application by the deadline, your application will be considered complete and timely as long as the original is mailed to the clerk and received by the early voting clerk by the fourth business day after it was submitted by fax or e-mail.
  5. Double-check the deadlines and be sure to cast your voted ballot on time to be sure it is counted.
  6. Please contact your Local Election Office if you have any further questions about the exact process.

• Once you get your absentee ballot in Texas

  1. Once you receive the ballot, carefully read and follow the instructions.
  2. Sign and date where indicated.
  3. Mail your voted ballot back to the address indicated on the return envelope.
  4. Double-check the deadlines and be sure to cast your voted ballot on time to be sure it is counted.