November General Election guide
The November 3rd election is a VERY IMPORTANT elelction for Texans! We will decide our governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, Ag Commissioner, Railroad Commissioner, US House and Senate seats as well as our Texas House seats and Texas Senate seats, judges and local seats.
Historically, a November midterm election has relatively low turnout so you can have a big influence on deciding who wins by getting your friends, family, coworkers and community to vote. In the 2022 midterm in Texas, almost 60% of eligible voters stayed home!
When you click on the Texas Matters November Candidate Guide and enter your address, it will generate a custom ballot including the Democratic and Republican candidates for each race and what their priorities are. The information is nonbiased and generated straight from the candidates pages. It also connects you to their websites and social media so you can learn more about them and decide WHO WILL SPEAK FOR YOU?
October 5th, 2026 is the ast day to register to vote in the November 3rd election.
Register Here (until Monday, October 5, 2026)
If you have recenty moved or change your name, you can update address or name change on the Texas Secretary of State's website.
You can check your registration on the Texas Secretary of State's website.
You can vote early October 19th-30th or on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2026, voting hours are 7:00am-7:00pm at all polling places statewide.
October 19th-30th
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.
In Texas, you are eligible to vote by mail if you are: - 65 years or older; - are sick or disabled; - are out of the country on election day and during early voting; - are expected to give birth within three weeks before or after Election day; - are confined to jail, but otherwise eligible.
To apply for a Ballot by Mail, visit https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/reqabbm.shtml
Early voting polling locations are available two days before early voting starts.
Use this portal to find locations near you: https://goelect.txelections.civixapps.com/ivis-mvp-ui/#/login
Photo ID: TX drivers license, US passport, US military ID, Handgun license, Texas Identification Card. ID Requirements --> https://www.votetexas.gov/docs/sos-voter-ed-8-5x11-eng.pdf
When you click on the Texas Matters November Candidate Guide and enter your address, it will generate a custom ballot including the Democratic and Republican candidates for each race and what their priorities are. The information is nonbiased and generated straight from the candidates pages. It also connects you to their websites and social media so you can learn more about them and decide WHO WILL SPEAK FOR YOU?
You will be asked for your name and ID, your address will be confirmed and a blank ballot will be handed to you. When you walk to the polling machine, you will make your selections and insert your ballot to be printed. When you ballot is given back to you, check your ballot for accuracy before taking it over to the ballot counter. Once you have submitted your ballot - you have completed the voting process.
This is depedent on your polling location. Check polling wait times in your county here
Yes! You are allowed to have a printed sample ballot, candidate guide or written notes with you at the polls.
No you can not use your phone in the polling place so preparing your ballot ahead of time at TexasMatters.org will help you prepare and vote with confidence.
Yes. While there will be a record of you voting in the election, who you vote for is confidential.
You can register to vote up to two months prior to your 18th birthday, but your registration will not become effective until your 18th birthday. If you will be 18 before Election Day on November 3rd, you can register by the October 5th Voter Registration deadline and be eligble to vote in the November General Election.
If you have recently changed your name and have updated your Driver's Liscense or State I.D., you should have been given the option to update your Voter Registration name as well. If you did not, visit the linked site to make that change.
You can update your voter registration to your new address using the link provided. If you are within 30 days of an election day, you will need to vote at your previous voting location.
If you became a naturalized U.S. citizen before the October 5th voter registration deadline, you are eligible to register to vote in the November General Election. If you become a naturalized U.S. citizen after the October 5th voter registration deadline, you must wait until the next election to vote, following registering as a voter.
If you do not have at least two consecutive hours outside of your working hours while the polls are open, you are entitled to paid time off to vote.
It is best to vote early so you can get your vote in no matter what life brings you on election day. Depending on the situation, you may also be eligible to apply for an emergency early voting ballot due to sickness or disability. If this situation arises, contact your local county elections office immediately to receive specific emergency ballot instructions and deadlines.
Still have questions?
March Primary Guide
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.
- The Texas Secretary of State’s office
- When renewing or updating your Driver’s License
- 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...
May Runoff guide
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...
Still have questions?
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“You and I are told we must choose between a left or right, but I suggest there is no such thing as a left or right. There is only an up or down.”
“A Time For Choosing”
Ronald Reagan | Oct 27. 1964