Primaries are elections that are used by political parties to determine which candidate will represent the party. The winning candidate of each party faces off against each other in the November general election. To be declared the winner, a candidate must have more than half of the votes. If no candidate gets the majority of votes in a race, the top two will face each other in a runoff election on May 26.
Do you know which primary to vote in?
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Texas voters can decide which party’s primary election they want to vote in. Texas is one of the 15 states with open primaries, which means anyone who is registered to vote can vote in a specific party’s primary without being a member of that party.
Do I need an ID to vote?
When voting in person, voters will be asked to present an acceptable form of photo ID. Below is a list of acceptable ID forms:
Texas Driver’s License issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS
Texas Personal Identification Card issued by DPS
Texas Handgun License issued by DPS
United States Military Identification Card containing the person’s photograph
United States Citizenship Certificate containing the person’s photograph
United States Passport (book or card)
A list of supporting forms of id that can be presented if the voter does not have an acceptable form of photo ID includes the following:
A copy or original of a government document that shows the voter’s name and address, including the voter’s voter registration certificate
Copy of or original current utility bill
Copy of or original bank statement
Copy of or original government check
Copy of or original paycheck
Copy of or original of (a) a certified domestic (from a U.S. state or territory) birth certificate or (b) a document confirming birth admissible in a court of law, which establishes the voter’s identity (which may include a foreign birth document)
Can I vote with an expired ID?
Your ID must be current or expired for no more than 4 years to qualify to vote. For voters 70 and up, your photo ID can be expired for any length of time if the identification is otherwise okay.
Can you bring a sample ballot or notes to the booth?
According to the U.S. Government, you can bring notes or a sample ballot with you to the polls, you can not use your phone in the polling locations, and you will need to print it out.
Can I bring a gun?
No, only a peace officer on or off duty can take a handgun into a polling station.
Can I bring my phone to vote?
Yes and no, you can not use your cellphone, camera, tablet, laptop, sound recorder, or any other kind of recording device in the room where the voting is taking place.
Can I wear political clothing?
No one is allowed to wear political clothing or any similar items related to any candidate or political party, even if they are not on the ballot. This is enforceable within 100 feet of the station.
Can I bring my child?
Yes, a child under 18 can accompany a parent who is voting.
