Voter FAQs

FAQs

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What are my voting rights?

 

As a voter, you have rights! According to the Texas Secretary of State’s website, you have the right to:

• A ballot with written instructions on how to cast a ballot.

• Ask the polling place official for instructions on how to cast a ballot (but not suggestions on how to vote).

• Cast your vote in secret and free from intimidation.

• Receive up to two more ballots if you make a mistake while marking the ballot.

• Bring an interpreter to assist you as you qualify to vote if you do not understand the English language.

• Help to cast your ballot if you cannot write, see the ballot, or understand the language in which it is written.

• Report a possible voting rights abuse to the Secretary of State +1 (800) 252-8683 or to your local election official.

• Cast a provisional ballot if your name does not appear on the list of registered voters.

  • (1) Cast a provisional ballot

    • (a) if you do not possess one of the seven (7) acceptable forms of photo identification, which is not expired for more than four years, and you can reasonably obtain one of these forms of identification 

    • (b) if you possess, but did not bring to the polling place, one of the seven forms of acceptable photo identification, which is not expired for more than four years

    • (c) if you do not possess one of the seven forms of acceptable photo identification, which is not expired for more than four years, you could otherwise not obtain one due to a reasonable impediment, but you did not bring a supporting form of identification to the polling place

  • (2) the right to present one of the acceptable forms of photo identification, which is not expired for more than four years, to the county voter registrar’s office within six (6) calendar days after election day.

• Vote once at any early voting location during the early voting period within the territory conducting the election.

• File an administrative complaint with the Secretary of State concerning violations of federal and state voting procedures.

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Am I Eligible to vote?

 

According to the Texas Secretary of State, to vote in the upcoming election submit your application at least 30 days before the election date.

 

You are eligible to vote if you are:

• A United States citizen;

• A resident of the Texas county in which application for registration is made;

• At least 17 years and 10 months of age on the date you apply;

• At least 18 years old on Election Day;

• Not finally convicted of a felony, or, if so convicted must have

  • (1) fully discharged the sentence, including any term of incarceration, parole, or supervision, or completed a period of probation ordered by any court

  • (2) been pardoned or otherwise released from the resulting disability to vote

• and not determined by a final judgment of a court exercising probate jurisdiction to be

  • (1) totally mentally incapacitated

  • (2) partially mentally incapacitated without the right to vote. 

 

Read more here: Texas Secretary of State Website

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How do I register to vote?

 

Find out if you are registered to vote here.

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If you are not registered to vote, check out VoteTexas.gov or the Federal Voting Assistance Program for Service members, their families, and overseas citizens for directions to register.

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Can I get time off from work to vote?

 

According to the Texas Workforce Commission:

Although there is no specified time limit, employees have at least two hours off to vote on an election day (unless they have already voted under early voting procedures). Such time off needs to be paid to the extent that it cuts into the employee’s normal working hours. Such time off does not need to be paid if the two hours are available outside of normal working hours. If the time is taken off from mandatory overtime, the time off should be paid at the rate that would have applied to the time so missed. If the time is taken off from optional overtime voluntarily requested by the employee, the time off does not need to be paid, since the time off would be outside of normal working hours and is time that the employee voluntarily chose to spend working rather than voting.

 

Read more here: Texas Workforce Commission

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Am I eligible to vote by mail?

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To be eligible to vote early by mail in Texas, you must:

• 65 years of age or older;

• be disabled;

• be out of the country on election day and during the period for early voting by personal appearance; or

• be confined to jail, but otherwise eligible.

Instructions for submitting an Application for Ballot by Mail (“ABBM”):

• Print (PDF) the ABBM form OR submit an order online and an ABBM will be mailed to you.

• Complete Sections 1 through 4.

• In Section 1 where it says you can put either your Texas Driver's License/Personal Identification Number/Election Identification Certificate Number or the last 4 digits of your SSN, put both. By putting both you are less likely to be rejected.

• Sign and Date Section 5.

• If you were unable to sign the application and someone witnessed your signature, that person must complete Section 6.

• If someone helped you complete the application or mailed the application for you, that person must complete Section 6.

• Affix postage.

• If you printed the application you must place it in your own envelope and add postage.

• If you ordered the application online and it was mailed to you - fold the application in half, moisten top tab, seal and add postage.

• Don't forget to track your ABBM and/or ballot to see where it is at, if it has been received by the Elections Office, if it has been rejected, and if you can fix the issue with the ABBM or cure the ballot.

 

Address and mail the completed ABBM to the Calhoun County Elections Office:

Calhoun County Elections Office

Mary Orta, Elections Administrator

211 S. Ann Ste. 103
Port Lavaca, Tx 77979

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You may also fax the application if a fax machine is available in the office:

Office Phone/telefono: (361) 553-4440 
Fax: (361) 552-4443

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You also have the option of submitting a scanned copy of the completed and signed application to the office via email:

mary.orta@calhouncotx.org

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Military and overseas voters are welcome to use the regular registration and early voting by mail process available to all voters away from their home county on Election Day. However, there are also special provisions for military and overseas voters.

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Do I need to show my ID to vote?

 

To vote in person, you must present a form of government issues identification. According to the Secretary of State, A voter who has not been issued a driver’s license or social security number may register to vote, but such voter must submit proof of identification when presenting himself/herself for voting or with his/her mail-in ballots, if voting by mail. These voters’ names are flagged on the official voter registration list with the annotation of “ID.” The “ID” notation instructs the poll worker to request a proper form of identification from these voters when they present themselves for voting, unless they are a voter with a permanent exemption on the voter registration certificate.

 

The voter must present one of the seven (7) acceptable forms of identification:

1. Texas driver license issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS);

2. Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS;

3. Texas personal identification card issued by DPS

4. Texas concealed handgun license issued by DPS

5. United States military identification card containing the person’s photograph

6. United States citizenship certificate containing the person’s photograph

7. United States passport

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For details and more information on what forms of ID are acceptable, please click here.

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Can anybody vote in the Democratic Primary?

 

During the primary election, you have the choice to vote in either the Republican or Democratic primary.

 

The choice in primary that you make will determine the party primary in which you’ll vote in case of a run-off:

• If you vote in the Republican party primary, you are eligible to vote only in the Republican party run-off.

• If you vote in the Democratic party primary, you are eligible to vote only in the Democratic party run-off.

• If you did not vote during the primary elections, you are eligible to choose either the Republican or Democratic party runoff in which to vote.

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Where do I vote and when are polls open? 

 

Early Voting in Calhoun County usually takes place at:

Calhoun County Courthouse

211 S. Ann St

Port Lavaca, TX 77979

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• Monday 8am to 5pm

• Tuesday 7am to 7pm

• Wednesday 8am to 5pm

• Thursday 7am to 7pm

• Friday 8am to 5pm

• First Saturday of Early Voting period 9am to 1pm

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How do I find my polling place? 

On Election Day, you should visit your designated voting location. Find your polling location here.

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