Frequently Asked Questions about the Texas Primary

The primary is when candidates of the same party lay out what they stand for and will prioritize once in office. It is the best time to learn about the differences between candidates of a same party (and you would be surprised how different they can be). It’s also the best chance to influence your candidate’s and party’s priorities!

If you have ever gotten to the polling place in November and not liked anyone on the ballot, it’s likely because you didn’t vote in March or May for the person who best aligns with your values.

The Texas Primary happens in March of even-numbered years, for example, March 2026, March 2028, or March 2030.

More people vote when they:

• Are negatively impacted by an issue like high property taxes, high cost of living,
  poorly funded schools…
• Know the candidates
• Realize that one vote can mean the difference between winning and losing or a
  costly, risky runoff
• Are encouraged by their friends and family to vote
• Are given everything they need to “make a plan!” and “make it happen!” - why Texas
  Matters exists

For many elections in Texans, November is essentially already decided because the district lines are drawn to favor the nominee of a particular party who was selected in March.

Although it is usually pretty difficult to know who is in your primary and what they stand for, our Texas Matters Primary Voter Guide makes it easy!

No! Texas has an open primary system: a registered voter is not required to register with a party in advance of an election.

No. If you vote in the Republican or Democratic primary in March, you may not vote in another party’s runoff election in May.

We encourage you to vote for the person or party that you are most aligned with. In the primary, candidates of the same party can be very different and have very different values. That’s why it’s so important to know who the candidates are, what they stand for and vote!

A country western dance or Nominating in March/May and Electing in November.

To win a party’s nomination in the primary election, a candidate must receive a majority (>50 %).

The runoffs are usually the last Tuesday in May. Historically, the runoff is a very low turnout election, so your vote has an even bigger impact!

• Any U.S. citizen eligible to vote in Texas who is registered before the deadline (30+ days in advance of an election) can vote in a primary election.
• If you will turn 18 by the date of the election.
• You can not vote if you have been convicted of a felony and are still serving a sentence (including parole or probation) for that felony.

You can quickly check your voter registration status at Texas.gov or Vote.org.

1. The Texas Secretary of State’s office
2. When renewing or updating your Driver’s License
3. At your local county registrar’s office

Your voter registration needs to be postmarked or submitted online at least 30 days in advance of an election. For example, the registration submission deadline for the March 3, 2026 primary is February 2, 2026.

Early voting is available in Texas.

For example, early voting for the March 3, 2026 primary election is February 17-February 27.

If you early vote, you can vote at more places in your community than on election day. On election day, you have to vote at your polling location associated with your address. Early voting locations and hours are determined by each county. To find accurate information about early voting, visit your county's elections website or start with the state's voter information page. 

Polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. This allows people to vote before work, on the way to pick-up kids or the grocery store, before dinner...

The primary is when candidates of the same party lay out what they stand for and will prioritize once in office. If no candidate gets more than 50% of the votes in the primary, they go into a Runoff on May 26, 2026. The Runoff is between the top two “vote-getters” in a party for a specific seat.

Yes! In Texas, you can vote in the May Runoff even if you didn’t vote in the March primary.

Approximately 1 in 14 registered voters in Texas vote in the May runoff. It is an extremely important election with extremely low turn-out! Although only 13% of Texans live in rural communities, rural North Texas and West Texas have the highest voter turnout in May. If you don’t vote in May, you are giving rural Texans the power to choose our statewide seats like Attorney General and US seats like US Senate.

If you have ever gotten to the polling place in November and not liked anyone on the ballot, it’s likely because you didn’t vote March 3rd or in the May 26th Runoff for the person who best aligns with your values.

No! Texas has an open primary system: a registered voter is not required to register as a Republican or Democrat in advance of the election.

Although it is usually pretty difficult to know who is in your Primary Runoff and what they stand for, but not anymore! Our custom Primary Candidate RUNOFF Guide makes it easy!

No. If you vote in the Republican or Democratic primary in March, you may not vote in the other party’s runoff election in May.

For many electoral contests in Texas, the general election in November is essentially already decided in March because the district lines are drawn to favor the nominee of a particular party.

We encourage you to vote for the person or party that you are most aligned with. In the primary, candidates of the same party can be very different and have very different values. That’s why it’s so important to know who the candidates are, what they stand for and vote!

A country western dance or voting in March and in November. If your candidate is in a runoff, then it also means voting in May so it’s a Texas Three-Step!

Yes! Early voting is May 18–22, 2026.

Last day to register to vote for the runoff is April 27, 2026

If you early vote, you can vote at more places in your community than on election day. On election day, you have to vote at your polling location associated with your address. Early voting locations and hours are determined by each county. To find accurate information about early voting, visit your county's elections website or start with the state's voter information page. 

Polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. This allows people to vote before work, on the way to pick-up kids or the grocery store, before dinner...