Know Before You Go to the Polls

May 7, 2022 is the Uniform Election,
Last mean solar day to register to vote is April seven, 2022

Identification Requirements for Voting

Under Texas law, voters who possess one of the 7 acceptable forms of photo ID must present that ID at the polls when voting in person. Voters who do non possess and cannot reasonably obtain i of the vii approved forms of photograph ID may fill out a Reasonable Impediment Annunciation (RID) (PDF) at the polls and present an alternative course of ID, such as a utility bill, bank argument, regime check, or a voter registration certificate.

Here is a list of the acceptable forms of photo ID:

• Texas Commuter License issued by the Texas Department of Public Rubber (DPS)
• Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS
• Texas Personal Identification Menu issued by DPS
• Texas Handgun License issued by DPS
• United States Military Identification Carte du jour containing the person'south photo
• United States Citizenship Document containing the person's photo
• U.s. Passport (book or card)

With the exception of the U.S. Citizenship Certificate, which does not expire, for voters aged 18-69, the adequate form of photo identification may exist expired no more than 4 years before existence presented for voter qualification at the polling place. For voters anile 70 or older, the acceptable form of photo identification may be expired for whatsoever length of fourth dimension if the identification is otherwise valid.
Election Identification Certificates are available from DPS driver license offices during regular business hours. Notice mobile station locations here.

Here is a list of the supporting forms of ID that can be presented if the voter does non possess one of the forms of acceptable photo ID and cannot reasonably obtain i:

• copy or original of a government certificate that shows the voter's name and an accost, including the voter's voter registration document;
• copy of or original current utility beak;
• copy of or original bank statement;
• re-create of or original regime bank check;
• copy of or original paycheck; or
• copy of or original of (a) a certified domestic (from a U.S. state or territory) birth document or (b) a certificate confirming birth admissible in a court of constabulary which establishes the voter's identity (which may include a strange birth document).

Subsequently presenting ane of the forms of supporting ID listed to a higher place, the voter must execute a Reasonable Impediment Announcement.

Procedures for Voting

When a voter arrives at a polling location, the voter will exist asked to nowadays one of the seven (seven) adequate forms of photograph ID that is electric current or, for voters anile xviii-69, expired no more than 4 years. Voters aged 70 or older may present one of the seven (vii) acceptable forms of photo ID that is expired for any length of time that is otherwise valid. If a voter does not possess 1 of the seven (vii) acceptable forms of photograph ID and cannot reasonably obtain one, the voter may present a supporting form of ID and execute a Reasonable Impediment Declaration, noting the voter'due south reasonable impediment to obtaining an acceptable form of photo identification, stating that the data independent in the declaration is true, that the voter is the same private personally appearing at the polling place to sign the declaration, and that the voter faces a reasonable impediment to procuring an adequate form of photograph identification.

Election officials are still required past Land law to make up one's mind whether the voter's name on the identification provided (acceptable photo ID, or supporting form of ID, if applicative) matches the name on the official listing of registered voters ("OLRV"). After a voter presents their ID, whether it's an acceptable grade of photo ID or a supporting class of ID (if applicable), the election worker will compare information technology to the OLRV. If the name on the ID matches the name on the list of registered voters, the voter will follow the regular procedures for voting.

If the name does not lucifer exactly only is "essentially like" to the name on the OLRV, the voter will be permitted to vote every bit long as the voter signs an affidavit stating that the voter is the same person on the list of registered voters.

If a voter possesses an acceptable form of photograph ID only does not accept information technology at the polling place, the voter will still be permitted to vote provisionally. The voter will accept six (6) days to nowadays an acceptable class of photo identification to the county voter registrar, or fill out the natural disaster affidavit referenced in the Exemption/Exceptions section below, or the voter'southward ballot will be rejected. Alternatively, a voter who possesses an acceptable course of photo ID merely does not have it at the polling place may choose to leave the polling place and return before the close of the polls on ballot day with said acceptable form of photo ID to, if the voter would otherwise qualify, vote a regular ballot at that time.

Exemptions:

Voters with a disability may use with the county voter registrar for a permanent exemption to presenting an acceptable photograph identification or following the Reasonable Impediment Declaration procedure in the canton. The application must contain written documentation from either the U.S. Social Security Administration evidencing the applicant'due south disability, or from the U.Southward. Department of Veterans Affairs evidencing a disability rating of at least 50 percent. The applicant must also state that he/she does non have a form of identification prescribed by Section 63.0101 of the Texas Election Code. Those who obtain a inability exemption will be allowed to vote upon display of their voter registration certificate reflecting the exemption, and will not need to execute a Reasonable Impediment Declaration. Please contact your county voter registrar for more details.

Voters who have a consistent religious objection to being photographed or who do not present an acceptable form of photo identification listed above or follow the Reasonable Impediment Declaration procedure considering of certain natural disasters as alleged past the President of the U.s.a. or the Texas Governor, may vote a provisional ballot, appear at the voter registrar's office inside six (half dozen) calendar days later on ballot mean solar day, and sign an affidavit swearing to the religious objection or natural disaster, in order for the voter's ballot to exist counted. Delight contact your canton voter registrar for more details.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What kind of photograph identification is required to qualify to vote in person?

   The post-obit is a listing of acceptable photo IDs at the polling place:

   • Texas Driver License issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
   • Texas Election Identification Certificate issued past DPS
   • Texas Personal Identification Menu issued by DPS
   • Texas Handgun License issued by DPS
   • United States Military Identification Card containing the person's photograph
   • U.s. Citizenship Document containing the person's photo
   • U.s.a. Passport (book or card)
   With the exception of the U.Southward. Citizenship Certificate, which does not expire, for voters anile eighteen-69, the acceptable form of photograph identification may be expired no more than than four years before being presented for voter qualification at the polling identify. For voters aged seventy or older, the adequate class of photo identification may be expired for any length of fourth dimension if the identification is otherwise valid.
2. My adequate photo ID is expired. Will information technology still work?

   With the exception of the U.S. Citizenship Document, which does non expire, for voters aged eighteen-69, the acceptable photo identification must be current or take expired no more than 4 years before existence presented for voter qualification at the polling identify. For voters aged 70 or older, the acceptable form of photo identification may exist expired for any length of time if the identification is otherwise valid.

3. What if a voter does not have any of the adequate forms of photo ID?

   If a voter does not possess an acceptable course of photograph ID and the voter cannot reasonably obtain such ID, the voter may all the same bandage a regular ballot past presenting a supporting form of ID and executing a Reasonable Impediment Declaration, noting the voter's reasonable impediment to obtaining an adequate class of photo identification, stating that the information contained in the declaration is truthful, that the voter is the aforementioned individual personally appearing at the polling place to sign the announcement, and that the voter faces a reasonable impediment to procuring an acceptable form of photograph identification.
   Hither is a listing of supporting forms of ID:

   • copy or original of a government document that shows the voter'south proper noun and an address, including the voter'south voter registration document;
   • re-create of or original current utility bill;
   • re-create of or original bank statement;
   • re-create of or original regime check;
   • copy of or original paycheck; or
   • copy of or original of (a) a certified domestic (from a U.South. land or territory) birth certificate or (b) a document confirming birth admissible in a courtroom of law which establishes the voter'south identity (which may include a foreign birth certificate).
   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. The awarding must contain written documentation from either the U.Due south. Social Security Assistants evidencing the applicant's disability, or from the U.Due south. Department of Veterans Diplomacy evidencing a disability rating of at least fifty percent. The applicant must too state that he/she does not have a form of identification prescribed by Section 63.0101 of the Texas Ballot Code. Those who obtain a disability exemption will be allowed to vote upon brandish of their voter registration certificate reflecting the exemption, and will not demand to execute a Reasonable Impediment Annunciation.

   If a voter states that they (a) do not possess an acceptable form of photograph identification listed above, and the voter tin can reasonably obtain ane of these acceptable forms of identification or (b) possesses, but did non bring to the polling place, ane of the 7 forms of acceptable photo identification listed above, the voter may bandage a provisional ballot at the polls. However, in social club to have the provisional ballot counted, the voter will exist required to visit the voter registrar's office within 6 calendar days of the engagement of the election to nowadays one of the above forms of photo ID; OR, if applicable, submit ane of the temporary affidavits addressed in these FAQs (e.grand., religious objection or natural disaster); OR, if applicable, qualify for the inability exemption addressed in these FAQs, in the presence of the canton voter registrar. Alternatively, the voter may choose to exit the polling identify and return earlier the close of the polls on election solar day with an acceptable form of photograph ID to, if they otherwise qualify, vote a regular election at that time.

   Voters who have a consequent religious objection to being photographed or who do not present an acceptable grade of photo identification listed to a higher place or follow the Reasonable Impediment Declaration procedure considering of certain natural disasters equally declared by the President of the U.s.a. or the Texas Governor, may vote a provisional ballot, appear at the voter registrar's role within six (6) calendar days afterwards election day, and sign an

   affidavit swearing to the religious objection or natural disaster, in gild for the voter's ballot to be counted. Please contact your county voter registrar for more than details.
4. What is a reasonable impediment?

   Reasonable impediments identified on the Reasonable Impediment Proclamation are: lack of transportation, disability or illness, lack of nascency document or other documents needed to obtain acceptable photo ID, work schedule, family responsibilities, lost or stolen ID, or acceptable form of photograph ID applied for but not received. You must qualify for one of these reasonable impediments in order to execute a Reasonable Impediment Proclamation. A person is bailiwick to prosecution for perjury under Affiliate 37, Penal Code, or Section 63.0013 of the Texas Ballot Code for providing a false statement or imitation data on a Reasonable Impediment Declaration.

5. What if a voter does not have any form of ID with them at the polling place and they exercise not have a inability exemption when they visit the polling identify?

   If a voter does not possess an acceptable form of photo ID, cannot reasonably obtain one, and does not accept or does not bring a supporting form of ID to present in connection with a Reasonable Impediment Declaration, or if the voter does not possess an acceptable form of photo ID and can reasonably obtain an acceptable grade of photo ID, or if the voter possesses, but did not bring with them, an acceptable form of photo ID, the voter may bandage a provisional ballot at the polls. However, in order to have the provisional ballot counted the voter volition be required to visit the county voter registrar's office within six agenda days of the engagement of the ballot to present an acceptable grade of photograph ID; OR, if the voter does non possess and cannot reasonably obtain an acceptable course of photo ID, follow the Reasonable Impediment Declaration procedure; OR, if applicable, submit 1 of the temporary affidavits addressed in these FAQs (religious objection or natural disaster) in the presence of the canton voter registrar; OR, if applicable, authorize for the disability exemption addressed in these FAQs with the county voter registrar.

   Alternatively, a voter who possesses an adequate form of photograph ID but does not have information technology at the polling place, or a voter who does not possess an adequate form of photo ID, and is reasonably able to obtain ane, may choose to leave the polling place and return before the shut of the polls on ballot day with an adequate form of photograph ID to vote a regular ballot at that time. In add-on, a voter who does non possess, would otherwise not be able to reasonably obtain an acceptable class of photo ID, only did not bring a supporting grade of ID to the polling place, may choose to get out the polling place and render earlier the shut of the polls on election solar day with said supporting form of ID to fill up out the Reasonable Impediment Declaration and, if they otherwise qualify, vote a regular ballot at that time.

6. What if my adequate form of photo ID was lost, stolen, suspended, revoked or is expired more than four years?

   A voter whose photo identification has been lost, stolen, suspended, revoked or, for voters anile 18-69, expired more four years does not possess one of the acceptable forms of photo ID, and, if the voter cannot reasonably obtain a replacement of the identification that was lost, stolen, suspended, revoked or expired or another form of adequate photograph ID, the voter is eligible to nowadays a supporting form of ID, execute a Reasonable Impediment Annunciation, and, assuming they otherwise qualify, vote a regular ballot.

7. My proper name on my approved photo ID or my supporting ID (if applicable) does not exactly friction match my proper noun on my voter registration card. Tin I however vote?

   Election officials will review the ID and if a proper noun is "

   substantially similar" to the proper name on their listing of registered voters, you will still be able to vote, just y'all volition likewise have to submit an affidavit stating that you are the same person on the listing of registered voters.
8. What does "essentially similar" mean?

   A voter's name is considered substantially similar if one or more of the following circumstances applies:

   • The proper noun on the ID is slightly different from one or more of the name fields on the official list of registered voters.
   • The name on the voter's ID or on the list of registered voters is a customary variation of the voter'south formal proper name. For example, Neb for William
   • The voter's name contains an initial, centre name, or former name that is either not on the official list of registered voters or on the voter's ID.
   • A first name, eye name, former name or initial of the voter's name occupies a dissimilar field on the presented ID certificate than it does on the list of registered voters.
   In considering whether a proper name is substantially similar, ballot officials volition also look at whether information on the presented ID matches elements of the voter's data on the official list of registered voters such every bit the voter's residence address or date of nativity.
9. Is the DPS Election Identification Certificate notwithstanding going to be bachelor?

   Yep. The Ballot Identification Certificate is now available, and will be nonetheless be a form of acceptable photograph ID. Information regarding how to obtain an ballot identification certificate can exist constitute at www.dps.texas.gov. Y'all may also contact DPS past phone at (512) 424-2600 for more than data.

   Should you need additional data, please contact our office via telephone at ane-800-252-VOTE (8683) or email us.

© 2020 Role of the Texas Secretary of State. All Rights Reserved.

daileydivening.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.votetexas.gov/mobile/id-faqs.htm

Share this post