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Midterm Elections: Voter registration deadline coming up

Posted at 5:27 AM, Sep 05, 2018
and last updated 2018-09-05 10:41:13-04

If you still need to register to vote in the November 6 Uniform Election, it will be a lot more convenient to get it done sooner than later.

If you aren’t registered to vote, you’ll need to fill out a voter registration application and have it postmarked at least 30 days before the election.

If you want to vote and be a part of the Nov. 6 election,Texas residents must complete their voter registration at least 30 days prior to the election date.

“If you are not registered to vote, you will not be able to cast a ballot. You will be able to cast a provisional ballot, but there will be a determination made if your ballot counts or not, depending if you are registered or not,” said Nueces County Tax Assessor-Collector Kevin Kieschnick.

The voter registration application must be postmarked by Oct. 8.  However, this year the Texas Secretary of State’s office says since the 30th day before the Election Day is a Sunday and the next day is Columbus Day, the application will be considered submitted on time if it’s postmarked by Oct. 9.

“What you need to do is fill out a little postcard, a voter registration application, and you can get those at the U.S Postal Service Offices, or you can get the application here at the County Courthouse,” said Kieschnick.

So this year, for this election, voters will have two extra days to get their applications in on time. But do not wait until the last minute.

“You have about another 30 days or so until the deadline but don’t wait till the last day because that potentially puts your vote at jeopardy if you don’t make it by the deadline. Applications received on or after Oct. 10 will get you registered to vote, but you will not be eligible to vote in the Nov. 6 election,” said Kieschnick.

If you think you might be registered already, check here.

You can confirm if you’re registered by searching with three pieces of identification:

  • Your Voter Unique Identifier (VUID) that appears on your voter registration certificate.
  • Your Texas driver’s license number, if you provided it when you applied for voter registration.
  • Your first and last name. Or, you can call your local voter registrar’s office.

To register or update your registration:

To update your name or address, visit here. If you moved counties, you’ll have to re-register. To register, fill out the Texas voter registration form online, which is also available in Spanish.

Print and return the form to your county voter registrar’s office. Forms are also available at your county voter registrar’s office or at other locations such as public libraries, post offices or high schools.

When you’re filling out the registration form, you’ll need to:

  • Respond “Yes” or “No” to whether you’re a citizen.
  • Mark whether you’re filling out a new application, changing your address or name or requesting a replacement voter registration card.
  • Provide your name, date of birth and your Texas Driver’s License or ID card number. If you don’t have one, provide the last four digits of your Social Security number.

Voter eligibility and identification requirements in Texas

To be eligible to vote you must be a U.S. citizen, 18 years old by election day and living in the county that matches your registration. Also, you must not be serving a sentence or parole for a felony conviction. Read more from the Texas Secretary of State’s office on voting.

Here are the 7 acceptable forms of voter identification:

Texas was forced to weaken its voter ID requirements for this election after the Supreme Court in July ruled the state’s 2011 law violated the Voting Rights Act.

The following are acceptable forms of identification to bring when casting your ballot:

  • Texas driver 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 license to carry a handgun 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

If a voter can’t present one of those seven forms of ID, the voter can sign a declaration at the polls explaining why he or she can’t obtain of the approved forms and provide one of the following forms of supporting documentation:

  • A certified birth certificate (must be original)
  • A valid voter registration certificate
  • A copy or original of one of the following: current utility bill, bank statement, government check, or paycheck or other government document that shows the voter’s name and an address.