Voter Information
Misleading Voter Information
- There is a FALSE rumor going around by e-mail telling people that if they vote Straight Democratic Party, they must also cast a vote specifically for Barack Obama in order to have an Obama vote registered. THIS IS FALSE INFORMATION. The Obama Campaign has issued a statement concerning the false information in this email and encouraging Texas voters to cast a straight Democratic ballot. Click here to view the correct procedure for voting a straight Democratic ticket.
- The address on your driver's license does not have to match the address where you are registered in. In fact, you do not need to have a driver's license to vote.This rumor is aimed at causing confusion and suppressing the vote, especially among students and other people who move often. A voter registration certificate is enough on its own to allow you to vote.
Election 2008 Information
Voting is easy. Here are few simple steps you can follow to make sure your voting experience goes smoothly.
First, check your registration and find your polling place by visiting the Secretary of State's website.
Second, make sure you are informed. There are pressing issues on every ballot across our state and you can review what will be on your ballot by clicking here.
Third, understand the voting process. You can get familiar with the voting systems used by your county by clicking here.
Fourth, know your rights as a voter and don't be fooled by misinformation. Review the "Protecting the Vote" section below to get all the facts and make sure your vote will count.
Fifth, do your part by reminding your friends, family and neighbors to get to the polls early.
Have questions? Check out the Frequently Asked Questions below or Click Here.
Frequently Asked Questions
When Do I Vote?
- Early Voting: October 20, 2008 - October 31, 2008 - call your County Elections office for exact days and hours
- Election Day: November 4th - all poll locations are open from 7am to 7pm
- Ballot by Mail: applications accepted (received, not postmarked) by September 5, 2008 - October 28, 2008
TIP: Peak Voting hours are 7-9am, 11am-1pm, and 5-7pm. To avoid long lines, try voting during off-peak times.
Where Do I Vote?
- On Election Day, you will need to vote at the correct location for your precinct. On your Voter Registration Card, you will see a precinct number. Your residence is located in a specific "precinct" or area within the county. In some cases, precincts may be combined to accommodate joint local elections, so always consult your County Clerk or Elections Administrator in the days before an election for the address of the polling place where you're to vote. As well, most newspapers print precinct polling places and addresses in the days before an election. You can also find that information here.
- During Early Voting, you can vote at any location in the county. This is yet another benefit of voting early. You can find Early Voting locations in your county by contacting your County Elections office or by clicking here.
TIP: Some Early Voting locations are more popular than others and tend to have longer lines. Contact your County Party or County Elections office to find out which locations might be less crowded.
How Do I Vote?
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When you arrive at the polling place, you will be asked for your voter registration card. (For other acceptable forms of identification, click here) The election official will verify that it matches your present address and then ask you to sign the list of people who have voted in the precinct.
Depending on the type of election - local, statewide, national, or combination - you will be handed:
- A paper ballot on which you will select your choices and which will be counted by hand;
- A paper ballot on which you will select your choices by darkening an oval or arrow directly or "marking" with the aid of a voting machine; or
- A slip of paper with a numerical access code or, in some counties, a ballot activator card. In the next available voting booth, enter your code or card and let the on-screen instructions guide you through the process of electronic voting.
- For more information about voting methods, click here.
Do I need my driver's license to vote?
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A voter registration certificate is enough on its own to allow you to vote*. If you have lost or misplaced your certificate, you must show another form of identification. Acceptable forms of identification include:
A driver's license or personal identification card issued by the Texas department of public safety
- A similar document issued to you by an agency of another state, regardless of whether the license or card has expired
- A form of identification containing a photograph
- A birth certificate
- U.S. citizenship papers
- U.S. passport
- Official mail addressed to you from a government agency
- A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and address
- Any other form of identification presented by the secretary of state's office.
*EXCEPTION: First time voters who registered by mail will also have to present identification.
What if I'm not on the list at the polls?
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If you show up at the polls and are not on the list, the election official should call the voter registration office to find out if you are registered in a different precinct or if there is some other problem. If you are supposed to vote in another location, you must go to that other location to vote.
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If the voter registration office can not find your record, you have the option to vote a provisional ballot. WARNING - most provisional ballots will not count! Therefore, be sure to exhaust all other possible options and try to vote a regular ballot.
Can I wear Obama gear when I go to vote?
- No one is allowed to campaign within 100 feet of a polling location, so anyone with any campaign shirts, buttons, hats, or other campaign gear will be asked to remove the item or cover up the shirt. No one will be DENIED the right to vote, you will simply be asked not to have campaign material inside the 100 feet boundary. You are allowed to bring candidate literature, like push cards.
TIP: If you are going to be out campaigning on behalf of our great Democratic candidates before or after casting your ballot, take a sweater or button-up shirt with you so that you can put it on over your campaign attire when you go into the polls to vote.
Can I bring a sample ballot or notes to help me mark my official ballot?
- Voters may bring written materials such as sample ballots, notes, pamphlets, even campaign flyers to assist them in marking their own ballot. Voters who bring in these types of materials may not share them with other voters or leave them behind in the voting booth after casting their ballot.
Can I use my cell phone while at my polling location?
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Voters may not use cell phone while in the polling location.
What if I am not able to physically enter teh polling location?
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If you are physically unable to enter the polling place, you may ask that an election officer bring a ballot to you at the entrance of the polling place or to a car at curbside. After you mark the ballot, give it to the election officer who will put it in the ballot box. Or, at your request, a companion may hand you a ballot and deposit it for you.
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TIP: If you plan to go alone to vote curbside, it is wise to call ahead so election officials will expect you. Generally speaking, you may vote curbside during the early voting period (the 17th day before Election Day until the 4th day before Election Day) or on Election Day.
Why are Republican candidates listed first in each race on the ballot?
- Statewide, the order of candidates by party affiliation is determined by the number of votes received by each party's candidate for governor on the most recent gubernatorial general election.
Military and Overseas Voter Services
Protecting the Vote
Voter Rights Handout (English)
Voter Rights Handout (Spanish)
Texas Secretary of State Voter Information website
Report Problems:
- Texas Democratic Party - 512-478-9800
- Secretary of State - 1.800.252.VOTE
- County Elections Office
- County Democratic Party
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