Voters who do not possess an acceptable form of photo ID or a supporting document have the option of voting via a Provisional Ballot. Most purge, or delete, the names of inactive voters. How do I submit my application to Vote by Mail? In Texas, primary elections are conducted by the major political parties to determine their nominees for a given elective office in advance of a general election. How does the Harris County Clerk’s Office process my Vote by Mail ballot securely? Answer: Voters who are 65 years of age or older can apply for an annual ballot, meaning their Vote by Mail option will be registered for the entire calendar year. At that time, all Vote by Mail ballots will be tabulated and submitted into the official record. WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE EARLY BY PERSONAL APPEARANCE? However, during an election cycle, a voter that participated in a Primary Election may ONLY participate in the Primary Runoff Election of the Party in which the voter initially voted. You have the right to skip any measure or contest. (Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. Premium online tools. Your Vote by Mail ballot is not counted until voting centers close at 7:00 p.m. on Election Day. August 2020 Subject Matter Expert Public Report. All the votes you cast will be counted. Political Parties may also offer nonbinding propositions. May a registered voter participate in a Primary Election Runoff even if the voter did not vote in the primary elections? Add premium tools. When can I apply to Vote by Mail? It may be returned in any of the following manners: All ballots being returned in person must be received by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day. Information is vital to accessing the voting process. If you are 65 years of age or older, or have a disability, you can apply for an annual ballot – this means that your Vote by Mail option will be registered for that entire calendar year. Early Voting by Personal Appearance was introduced in Texas in the mid-1990s to make voting more convenient for the citizenry. What about if I submitted a Vote by Mail application and never received a ballot? You are eligible to Vote By Mail in Texas if: Under Texas law, you qualify as having a disability if you are sick, pregnant, or if voting in person will create a likelihood of injury to your health. Churchwell says the documents were obtained through an open records request, and the registrar’s office has been sending chunks of data showing the history of voter roll maintenance in the county, including noncitizens registered as long ago as the 1990s and as recently as 2020. Do you have a burning H-Town-related question? It also provides voters who may be away from the county of residence on Election Day the opportunity to vote in person. Your Vote by Mail ballot is counted when voting centers close at 7:00 p.m. on Election Day. Harris County now allows voters to cast their ballot at any polling place across the county. Voters need to bring an approved form of identification to vote at the polling location. The Carrier Envelope is verified for signature authentication, logged, and securely stored. In a Primary Election, all candidates are affiliated with the same major political party. The Harris County Clerk's Office makes a diligent effort to post accurate information on this website, but assumes no liability for damages incurred directly or indirectly as a result of errors, omissions, or discrepancies. You can apply to Vote by Mail at any time, but our office must receive (not just postmarked) your application by October 23 in order to send you a mail ballot for the November General Election. Voters can find a list of the approved forms of voting identification at /VotingInfo?lang=en-US#IDs, A Declaration of Reasonable Impediment is a document that eligible registered voters who do not possess an acceptable form of photo identification must complete and provide a supporting document to cast a regular ballot. If you are overseas and returning your ballot through the mail or a common or contract carrier, our office must receive it by 5 P.M. on November 8 (five days after Election Day). How do I return my completed ballot to the Election office? Is straight party voting available on a Primary Election Ballot? A completed mail ballot MUST be returned to the Harris County Clerk’s Office in the Official Carrier Envelope provided to you. May a voter participate in a General Election even if the voter did not vote in the primary elections? In Texas, a person must register to vote 30 days before Election Day, if never registered to vote. What if a voter does not possess an acceptable form of voter identification?