Primer on voting in 2020

CHECK YOUR REGISTRATION

• If you’ve voted in previous elections and haven’t moved out of the country, you’re probably ready to go. Check online at votetexas.gov/register. You’ll need your date of birth and either your name, county and ZIP code or your Texas driver’s license number. If you have your registration card, you also can use your voter ID number. If you’re not already registered, you won’t be able to vote on Nov. 3.

WHO CAN VOTE BY MAIL

Texas voters have to meet one of the following in order to vote by mail, also known as absentee voting.

• Those 65 or older on Election Day.

• Out of the county for both early voting and Election Day; for example, a student attending an out-of-state college, business traveler or military member on deployment.

• In jail with charges still pending.

• Sick or disabled and unable to visit a polling place. Election officials don’t have authority to require an explanation when this option is chosen.

HOW TO APPLY

Request an application for ballot by mail, also known as an ABBM.

• At the Texas Secretary of State website, sos.texas.gov/elections/. You can find a link to it under Frequently Asked Questions.

• On your county election office’s website. At bexar.org/elections, click on Vote by Mail in the gray box on the upper right-hand side of the page. You can fill it out on the site and print it or download the form to print it and fill it out by hand.

• At your county elections office.

• You may receive an application in the mail. Bexar County is mailing applications to those 65 and older. The Texas Democratic Party and some candidates also are mailing applications to voters.

• Mail or deliver a completed application to your local county clerk’s office. Bexar residents send it to: Bexar County Elections (Early Voting Clerk); 1103 S. Frio, Suite 200; San Antonio, TX. 78207-6328.

• You can deliver it in person during business hours by Oct. 12. Applications sent by mail have to arrive by Oct. 23, but you should get it in as early as possible.

WHEN AND HOW TO RETURN BALLOT

Once you receive your ballot in the mail, fill it out and return it.

• Mail it to county election office. Bexar residents send it to Bexar County Elections Administration Office, 1103 S. Frio St. Must be postmarked by 7 p.m. Election Day and received by 5 p.m. the day after if mailed within the U.S. If mailed from outside the U.S., must be delivered no later than five days after Election Day.

• Deliver it to your county election office during business or voting hours by 7 p.m. Election Day.

THE FINE PRINT

• Change your mind? Go to the polling site (bring your ballot and the envelope it came in if you have it) and ask the poll worker to cancel your mail ballot. Then vote as you would regularly.

• If someone helps you fill out the form, they are required by law to sign the affirmation statement on the ballot.

• If the ballot is delivered to the election office, it must be in a sealed envelope and only the voter or the person who helped fill it out can deliver it. Poll workers will check the ID of the person delivering it so an acceptable form of photo ID will be needed. For more information, go to votetexas.gov and select Voter ID.

• Contact the local election administrator to track your ballot. Texas residents who are mailing their ballots from outside the U.S. can track their ballots at votetexas.gov/military-overseas-voters/.

VOTE IN PERSON

• Early voting

When: Oct. 13-30; polls will be open from noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays; the rest of the week, they will open at 8 a.m. with closing hours set for 6 p.m. the first week, 8 p.m. the second week and 10 p.m. the last week.

Where: Bexar will have nearly 50 early voting sites, including megacenters at AT&T Center, Alzafar Shrine Auditorium and the Palo Alto College. Voters can go to any site. For a list of locations, go to bexar.org/elections.

• Election Day

7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; list of voting centers, including megacenters, will be available at bexar.org/elections.

WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING

• One of seven acceptable forms of photo ID such as a Texas driver’s license. For more information, go to votetexas.gov and select Voter ID.

• Voter registration card recommended but not required.

COVID-19

• Texas exempts poll workers and voters from wearing masks, although the Bexar elections department advises voters to wear masks.

• Early voting extended a week and hours added to encourage social distancing.

• Megacenters added in effort to provide space for social distancing.

• Some sites adding plexiglass at voting center check-ins and other areas with face-to-face contact and daily screening of poll workers.

• Sanitizing protocols also are being put in place by some election officials.