Early voting for the Nov. 7 election kicked off Monday, with the mayor’s race topping the ballot for Houston residents.
WHO: The 2.5 million registered voters in Harris County.
WHAT: Voters across the city, Harris County and the state will head to the polls to decide municipal races, billions in school and utility bonds, and 14 proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution. Houston voters also will weigh in on a pair of charter amendments, and county voters will decide whether they want to authorize $2.5 billion in bonds to expand and refurbish Harris Health System hospitals and clinics.
WHEN: Early voting runs through Nov. 3. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day, with the exception of Sunday, when they open from noon to 7 p.m.
WHERE: Voters can cast ballots at 68 locations across Harris County. To find early voting centers and see a sample ballot for Harris County, go to harrisvotes.com
Voters in Fort Bend County can find voting locations and sample ballots here.
Galveston County voters can find sample ballots and voting locations at galvestonvotes.org.
For voting locations and sample ballots in Montgomery County, click here.
Brazoria County voters can find sample ballots and voting locations at the county clerk’s website.
Waller County residents can find election information and sample ballots here.
In Chambers County, voters can find sample ballots on the county’s elections page.
For Liberty County residents, sample ballots and poll locations can be found here.
HOW: Under Texas law, voters must present one of seven types of photo identification to enter a polling place. Acceptable forms of ID include:
- Texas driver’s license
- Texas personal identification card issued by the Department of Public Safety
- United States citizenship certificate containing a photo
- Texas handgun license issued by DPS
- Texas election identification certificate issued by DPS
- U.S. passport
- U.S. military ID containing a photo
Don’t have a photo ID? You can fill out a Reasonable Impediment Declaration (RID) at the voting center and show a copy or original of a current utility bill, a bank statement, a government document that shows your name and address, your voter registration certificate, a government check, a paycheck or a certified U.S. birth certificate.
If you cannot provide one of those, you may vote provisionally. You will need to sign a provisional affidavit and will have six days after the election to bring an approved photo identification to the county registrar. In Harris County, that is the tax assessor-collector’s office.
AND HOW: You can watch a video on how to use Harris County’s voting machines on YouTube.
HELP: Should you need assistance at a voting location:
- The ballot is available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese and Chinese
- You can increase the font size or contrast on the voting machines
- Curbside voting is available at every location for those who need it. Ring the buzzer under the blue sign set in the parking lot for assistance
- Accessibility booths are wider and have a separate control to accommodate mobility devices or a chair
- Remote interpreters for those who need language assistance, including American Sign Language, are available
REMINDER: You may not use your phone in the voting center. You may, however, take a printed copy of the sample ballot or list of preferred candidates into the voting booth.
Happy voting.
And if you are approached by a Houston Landing reporter after casting your ballot, tell them why you voted.
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