Today is the last day to register to vote in November elections.
Applications may be mailed or delivered in person to tax assessor-collector
Monday marks the deadline for Texans to register to vote in the November general election.
Voter registration applications can be found on the Texas secretary of state’s website and at libraries, high schools and offices operated by the Texas Department of Public Safety and Health and Human Services Commission. U.S. Postal Service officials earlier this month authorized postmasters to offer voter registration applications at post offices after some in the Houston area had refused to do so.
In almost all cases, Texans are required to submit a printed application to the county voter registrar, which in Harris County is the tax assessor-collector. Applications may be hand delivered or mailed, as long as they are postmarked by Monday.
State officials last month began offering online voter registration for residents who apply for, renew or update their driver licens-
es. The new system is the first instance of online voter registration in Texas history. Only 10 states, including Texas, do not offer widespread online voter registration, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Texans may check whether they are registered to vote on the Texas secretary of state’s website or, for Harris County residents, on the tax assessor-collector’s website. Voter registration applications are available there in English, Spanish, Vietnamese and Chinese.
To be eligible to register to vote, residents must be U.S. citizens and 18 years old on Election Day. They also must live in the county where they submit their application. Thosewho have been convicted of a felony may only register if they have completed their sentence, including “any term of incarceration, parole, supervision, probation,” or if they have been pardoned, according to the Texas Secretary of State.
Texas has surpassed 16.6 million registered voters, according to numbers announced last month by Secretary of State Ruth Hughs, meaning more than1.5 million voters have registered since the 2016 presidential election.
Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins has projected up to 1.5 million people may vote in this year’s election in Harris County, comparedto 1.3 million voters in the 2018 midterm election.
The deadline to apply for a mail ballot is Oct. 23. Applications must be received, not postmarked, by that date.
Early voting begins Oct .13. Election Day is Nov .3.