Texas state executive official elections, 2020

2022 → ← 2018
Texas state executive official elections
Election details
Filing deadline: December 9, 2019
Primary: March 3, 2020 Primary runoff: July 14, 2020 General: November 3, 2020
How to vote
Poll times: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voting in Texas
Ballotpedia analysis
Federal and state primary competitiveness State executive elections in 2020 Impact of term limits in 2020 State government trifectas and triplexes
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Nine state executive offices were up for election in Texas in 2020:

Texas Railroad Commissioner
State Board of Education (8 seats)

Candidates and election results

Texas Railroad Commissioner

General election

General election for Texas Railroad Commission

James Wright defeated Chrysta Castañeda, Matt Sterett, and Katija Gruene in the general election for Texas Railroad Commission on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		James Wright (R)	53.0	5,831,263
		Chrysta Castañeda (D)	43.6	4,792,422
		Matt Sterett (L)	2.3	247,659
	Submit photo	Katija Gruene (G)	1.2	129,638

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 11,000,982
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary runoff election

Democratic primary runoff for Texas Railroad Commission

Chrysta Castañeda defeated Roberto Alonzo in the Democratic primary runoff for Texas Railroad Commission on July 14, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Chrysta Castañeda	62.0	579,698
		Roberto Alonzo	38.0	355,053

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 934,751
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Texas Railroad Commission

Chrysta Castañeda and Roberto Alonzo advanced to a runoff. They defeated Kelly Stone and Mark Watson in the Democratic primary for Texas Railroad Commission on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Chrysta Castañeda	33.8	598,638
✔		Roberto Alonzo	28.7	506,748
		Kelly Stone	21.7	383,453
		Mark Watson	15.8	279,911

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,768,750
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Texas Railroad Commission

James Wright defeated incumbent Ryan Sitton in the Republican primary for Texas Railroad Commission on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		James Wright	55.3	991,593
		Ryan Sitton	44.7	801,904

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,793,497
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Green convention

Green convention for Texas Railroad Commission

Katija Gruene advanced from the Green convention for Texas Railroad Commission on April 18, 2020.

		Candidate
✔	Submit photo	Katija Gruene (G)

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for Texas Railroad Commission

Matt Sterett defeated Charlie Stevens in the Libertarian convention for Texas Railroad Commission on August 3, 2020.

		Candidate
✔		Matt Sterett (L)
		Charlie Stevens (L)

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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State Board of Education

General election

General election for Texas State Board of Education District 1

Incumbent Georgina Perez defeated Jennifer Ivey in the general election for Texas State Board of Education District 1 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Georgina Perez (D)	55.8	287,623
		Jennifer Ivey (R)	44.2	228,140

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 515,763
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Texas State Board of Education District 1

Incumbent Georgina Perez advanced from the Democratic primary for Texas State Board of Education District 1 on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Georgina Perez	100.0	111,214

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 111,214
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Texas State Board of Education District 1

Jennifer Ivey advanced from the Republican primary for Texas State Board of Education District 1 on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jennifer Ivey	100.0	58,015

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 58,015
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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General election

General election for Texas State Board of Education District 5

Rebecca Bell-Metereau defeated Lani Popp and Stephanie Berlin in the general election for Texas State Board of Education District 5 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Rebecca Bell-Metereau (D)	48.9	493,930
		Lani Popp (R)	47.1	475,824
	Submit photo	Stephanie Berlin (L)	3.9	39,456

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,009,210
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary runoff election

Republican primary runoff for Texas State Board of Education District 5

Lani Popp defeated Robert Morrow in the Republican primary runoff for Texas State Board of Education District 5 on July 14, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Lani Popp	78.0	55,990
	Submit photo	Robert Morrow	22.0	15,827

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 71,817
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Texas State Board of Education District 5

Rebecca Bell-Metereau defeated Letti Bresnahan in the Democratic primary for Texas State Board of Education District 5 on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Rebecca Bell-Metereau	68.5	143,351
		Letti Bresnahan	31.5	65,885

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 209,236
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Texas State Board of Education District 5

Robert Morrow and Lani Popp advanced to a runoff. They defeated Inga Cotton in the Republican primary for Texas State Board of Education District 5 on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Robert Morrow	40.0	54,460
✔		Lani Popp	34.0	46,276
		Inga Cotton	26.0	35,425

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 136,161
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for Texas State Board of Education District 5

Stephanie Berlin advanced from the Libertarian convention for Texas State Board of Education District 5 on March 21, 2020.

		Candidate
✔	Submit photo	Stephanie Berlin (L)

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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General election

General election for Texas State Board of Education District 6

Will Hickman defeated Michelle Palmer and Whitney Bilyeu in the general election for Texas State Board of Education District 6 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Will Hickman (R)	49.8	371,958
		Michelle Palmer (D)	47.4	354,179
		Whitney Bilyeu (L)	2.9	21,414

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 747,551
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary runoff election

Democratic primary runoff for Texas State Board of Education District 6

Michelle Palmer defeated Kimberly McLeod in the Democratic primary runoff for Texas State Board of Education District 6 on July 14, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Michelle Palmer	64.2	39,757
		Kimberly McLeod	35.8	22,139

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 61,896
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Texas State Board of Education District 6

Michelle Palmer and Kimberly McLeod advanced to a runoff. They defeated Debra Kerner in the Democratic primary for Texas State Board of Education District 6 on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Michelle Palmer	46.7	51,778
✔		Kimberly McLeod	34.7	38,439
		Debra Kerner	18.7	20,712

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 110,929
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Texas State Board of Education District 6

Will Hickman advanced from the Republican primary for Texas State Board of Education District 6 on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Will Hickman	100.0	88,900

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 88,900
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for Texas State Board of Education District 6

Whitney Bilyeu advanced from the Libertarian convention for Texas State Board of Education District 6 on March 21, 2020.

		Candidate
✔		Whitney Bilyeu (L)

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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General election

General election for Texas State Board of Education District 8

Audrey Young defeated Audra Rose Berry in the general election for Texas State Board of Education District 8 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Audrey Young (R)	73.4	567,058
	Submit photo	Audra Rose Berry (L)	26.6	205,187

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 772,245
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Brian Leonard (L)

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Sharon Berry (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Texas State Board of Education District 8

Audrey Young advanced from the Republican primary for Texas State Board of Education District 8 on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Audrey Young	100.0	143,209

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 143,209
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for Texas State Board of Education District 8

Brian Leonard advanced from the Libertarian convention for Texas State Board of Education District 8 on March 21, 2020.

		Candidate
✔	Submit photo	Brian Leonard (L)

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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General election

General election for Texas State Board of Education District 9

Incumbent Keven Ellis defeated Brenda Davis in the general election for Texas State Board of Education District 9 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Keven Ellis (R)	74.7	571,322
	Submit photo	Brenda Davis (D)	25.3	193,364

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 764,686
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Texas State Board of Education District 9

Brenda Davis advanced from the Democratic primary for Texas State Board of Education District 9 on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Brenda Davis	100.0	62,632

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 62,632
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Texas State Board of Education District 9

Incumbent Keven Ellis advanced from the Republican primary for Texas State Board of Education District 9 on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Keven Ellis	100.0	208,202

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 208,202
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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General election

General election for Texas State Board of Education District 10

Incumbent Tom Maynard defeated Marsha Burnett-Webster and Trip Seibold in the general election for Texas State Board of Education District 10 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tom Maynard (R)	50.8	441,700
		Marsha Burnett-Webster (D)	45.9	398,453
		Trip Seibold (L)	3.3	28,603

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 868,756
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Texas State Board of Education District 10

Marsha Burnett-Webster defeated Stephen Wyman in the Democratic primary for Texas State Board of Education District 10 on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Marsha Burnett-Webster	84.5	133,862
		Stephen Wyman	15.5	24,549

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 158,411
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Texas State Board of Education District 10

Incumbent Tom Maynard advanced from the Republican primary for Texas State Board of Education District 10 on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tom Maynard	100.0	134,760

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 134,760
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for Texas State Board of Education District 10

Trip Seibold advanced from the Libertarian convention for Texas State Board of Education District 10 on March 21, 2020.

		Candidate
✔		Trip Seibold (L)

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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General election

General election for Texas State Board of Education District 14

Incumbent Sue Melton-Malone defeated Greg Alvord in the general election for Texas State Board of Education District 14 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Sue Melton-Malone (R)	67.8	582,027
	Submit photo	Greg Alvord (D)	32.2	276,303

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 858,330
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Texas State Board of Education District 14

Greg Alvord advanced from the Democratic primary for Texas State Board of Education District 14 on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Greg Alvord	100.0	81,833

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 81,833
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Texas State Board of Education District 14

Incumbent Sue Melton-Malone defeated Maria Berry in the Republican primary for Texas State Board of Education District 14 on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Sue Melton-Malone	61.1	108,389
		Maria Berry	38.9	69,048

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 177,437
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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General election

General election for Texas State Board of Education District 15

Jay Johnson defeated John Betancourt in the general election for Texas State Board of Education District 15 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jay Johnson (R)	77.8	496,080
		John Betancourt (D)	22.2	141,675

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 637,755
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Texas State Board of Education District 15

John Betancourt advanced from the Democratic primary for Texas State Board of Education District 15 on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		John Betancourt	100.0	42,234

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 42,234
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Texas State Board of Education District 15

Jay Johnson advanced from the Republican primary for Texas State Board of Education District 15 on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jay Johnson	100.0	190,677

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 190,677
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Campaign finance

The tables below contain data from financial reports submitted to state agencies. The data is gathered and made available by Transparency USA.

Context of the 2020 elections

Party control in Texas

Texas Party Control: 1992-2025
Three years of Democratic trifectas  •  Twenty-three years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year	92	93	94	95	96	97	98	99	00	01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25
Governor	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R
Senate	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R
House	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R

Voter information

How the primary works

A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Texas utilizes an open primary system. Voters do not have to register with a party in advance in order to participate in that party's primary. The voter must sign a pledge stating the following (the language below is taken directly from state statutes)

“

The following pledge shall be placed on the primary election ballot above the listing of candidates' names: 'I am a (insert appropriate political party) and understand that I am ineligible to vote or participate in another political party's primary election or convention during this voting year.'

”

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

Poll times

In Texas, all polling places are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time. Texas is divided between the Central and Mountain time zones. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.

Registration requirements

Check your voter registration status here.

To register to vote in Texas, an applicant must be a United States citizen, a resident of the county in which he or she is registering, and at least 17 years and 10 months old.

The deadline to register to vote is 30 days before the election. Prospective voters can request a postage-paid voter registration form online or complete the form online and return it to the county voter registrar. Applications are also available at a variety of locations including the county voter registrar’s office, the secretary of state’s office, libraries, and high schools. Voter registration certificates are mailed to newly registered voters.

Automatic registration

Texas does not practice automatic voter registration.

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

Texas does not permit online voter registration.

Same-day registration

Texas does not allow same-day voter registration.

Residency requirements

Prospective voters must reside in the county in which they are registering to vote.

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

Texas does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury.

State law requires election officials to conduct a check of registered voters' citizenship status. Section 18.068 of the Texas Election Code says the following:

“	The secretary of state shall quarterly compare the information received under Section 16.001 of this code and Section 62.113, Government Code, to the statewide computerized voter registration list. If the secretary determines that a voter on the registration list is deceased or has been excused or disqualified from jury service because the voter is not a citizen, the secretary shall send notice of the determination to the voter registrar of the counties considered appropriate by the secretary.	”
—Section 18.068, Texas Election Code

In January 2019, the Texas secretary of state’s office announced that it would be providing local election officials with a list of registered voters who obtained driver’s licenses or IDs with documentation such as work visas or green cards. Counties would then be able to require voters on the list to provide proof of citizenship within 30 days. The review was halted by a federal judge in February 2019, and Secretary of State David Whitley rescinded the advisory in April. A news release from Whitley’s office stated that “... going forward, the Texas Secretary of State's office will send to county voter registrars only the matching records of individuals who registered to vote before identifying themselves as non-U.S. citizens to DPS when applying for a driver's license or personal identification card. This will ensure that naturalized U.S. citizens who lawfully registered to vote are not impacted by this voter registration list maintenance process.”

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment. Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The Texas Secretary of State’s office allows residents to check their voter registration status online by visiting this website.

Voter ID requirements

Texas requires voters to present photo identification while voting.

The following list of accepted ID was current as of February 2023. Click here for the Texas Secretary of State's page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.

• Texas driver’s license issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
• Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS
• Texas Personal Identification Card issued by DPS
• Texas handgun license issued by DPS
• United States Military Identification Card containing the person’s photograph
• United States Citizenship Certificate containing the person’s photograph
• United States passport (book or card)

Identification provided by voters aged 18-69 may be expired for no more than four years before the election date. Voters aged 70 and older can use an expired ID card regardless of how long ago the ID expired.

Voters who are unable to provide one of the ID options listed above can sign a Reasonable Impediment Declaration and provide one of the following supporting documents:

• Copy or original of a government document that shows the voter’s name and an address, including the voter’s voter registration certificate
• Copy of or original current utility bill
• Copy of or original bank statement
• Copy of or original government check
• Copy of or original paycheck
• Copy of or original of (a) a certified domestic (from a U.S. state or territory) birth certificate or (b) a document confirming birth admissible in a court of law which establishes the voter’s identity (which may include a foreign birth document)

The following voters are exempt from showing photo ID:

• Voters with a disability
  • Voters with a disability "may apply with the county voter registrar for a permanent exemption to presenting an acceptable photo identification or following the Reasonable Impediment Declaration procedure in the county."
• Voters who have a religious objection to being photographed

Voters who do not have a photo ID can obtain a Texas Election Identification Certificate (EIC) at any Texas driver’s license office during regular business hours. Voters can also obtain an Election Identification Certificate from a mobile station. Locations are listed here.

Early voting

Texas permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.

Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.

Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.

Absentee voting

Texas voters are eligible to vote absentee in an election if:

• They cannot make it to the polls on Election Day because they will be away from the county on Election Day and during early voting;
• They are sick or disabled;
• They are 65 years of age or older; or
• They are confined in jail.

To vote absentee, a request must be received by county election officials no later than close of regular business on the eleventh day before the election. The completed ballot must then be returned by the close of polls on Election Day.

Past elections

2018

The following elections took place in 2018:

• Texas gubernatorial election, 2018
• Texas lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018
• Texas Attorney General election, 2018
• Texas Comptroller election, 2018
• Texas Agriculture Commissioner election, 2018
• Texas Public Lands Commissioner election, 2018
• Texas state executive official elections, 2018
• Texas gubernatorial election, 2018 (March 6 Republican primary)
• Texas lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018 (March 6 Republican primary)
• Texas Attorney General election, 2018 (March 6 Republican primary)
• Texas gubernatorial election, 2018 (March 6 Democratic primary)
• Texas lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018 (March 6 Democratic primary)
• Texas Attorney General election, 2018 (March 6 Democratic primary)
• Texas Railroad Commissioner election, 2018
• Texas Agriculture Commissioner election, 2018 (March 6 Democratic primary)
• Texas Agriculture Commissioner election, 2018 (March 6 Republican primary)
• Texas State Board of Education election, 2018

External links

Suggest a link

• State of Texas official website

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