The Texas Voting Guide for 2026: Primaries, Runoffs, ID Rules, and the Calendar That Actually Matters
Everything a Texas voter needs for 2026 — registration deadlines, March primary, May runoff, November general, accepted photo ID, mail ballot rules, and how to find your polling place in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, and beyond.
Editor's NoteThis is the Keep TX Red 2026 voting pillar guide — maintained year-round by our Elections Desk. We update it as deadlines, ID rules, and ballot dates change.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions and analysis on Keep TX Red are editorial content — not statements of fact. See our editorial standards.
Texas runs more elections than most voters realize: federal, state, county, ISD, city, MUD, hospital district, water district, and constitutional amendments. In an even-numbered year like 2026, the cycle starts in early January with the candidate filing deadline, runs through the March primary and May runoff, and ends with the November general election. Miss the wrong deadline and you sit out a year that decides governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, every member of the U.S. House, half the State Senate, and every member of the Texas House.
This is the Keep TX Red voter guide for 2026 — registration, ID, the calendar, mail ballots, where to vote, and how to find your district. It is written for Texans in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, Fort Worth, El Paso, the Rio Grande Valley, and every county in between.
The 2026 Calendar
- Monday, December 8, 2025 — first day candidates can file for the March 2026 primary.
- Monday, December 8, 2025 — filing deadline for most state and federal primary races.
- Monday, February 2, 2026 — last day to register to vote in the March primary (30 days before Election Day).
- Monday, February 16 – Friday, February 27, 2026 — early voting for the March primary.
- Tuesday, March 3, 2026 — Primary Election Day.
- Tuesday, May 26, 2026 — Primary Runoff Election Day (if needed; many statewide races trigger runoffs).
- Saturday, May 2, 2026 — Uniform Election Date for most ISD trustee, city council, and special-district races.
- Monday, October 5, 2026 — last day to register to vote in the November general election.
- Monday, October 19 – Friday, October 30, 2026 — early voting for the general election.
- Tuesday, November 3, 2026 — General Election Day.
How to Register
Texas does not offer same-day registration and does not offer fully online registration. To vote, you must submit a paper voter registration application to the voter registrar in the county where you live at least 30 days before the election.
You can pick up the form at any county tax office, public library, post office, or many high schools, or you can download and print it from the Secretary of State's website at votetexas.gov. The application is free.
- U.S. citizen.
- Age 18 or older by Election Day (17-year-olds can register if they will turn 18 by the next election).
- Resident of the Texas county where you apply.
- Not finally convicted of a felony — or have completed sentence, parole, and probation.
- Not declared mentally incapacitated by a court.
Accepted Photo ID at the Polls
Texas has one of the country's strongest voter ID laws. You must present one of the following at the polling place:
- Texas Driver License (may be expired up to four years; no expiration limit if you're 70 or older).
- Texas Election Identification Certificate (EIC) — free from DPS for those who don't drive.
- Texas Personal Identification Card.
- Texas handgun license.
- U.S. military ID with photo.
- U.S. citizenship certificate with photo.
- U.S. passport (book or card).
| If you don't have an accepted ID | What to do |
|---|---|
| Forgot it at home | Cast a provisional ballot; bring ID to county registrar within 6 days. |
| Lost or stolen | Sign a Reasonable Impediment Declaration and present a supporting document (utility bill, paycheck, bank statement). |
| Never had one | Apply for a free Election Identification Certificate at any DPS office. |
Mail Ballots: Limited and Specific
Texas does not have universal mail-in voting. You may vote by mail only if you meet one of four conditions:
- Age 65 or older on Election Day.
- Disabled (per the Texas Election Code definition).
- Out of the county during the entire early-voting period and on Election Day.
- Confined in jail but otherwise eligible to vote.
Primary vs. General: Why March Decides Most Texas Races
In most Texas legislative and congressional districts, the Republican primary is the actual election. November is the formality. That is a direct result of how districts have been drawn and how Texas's electorate has sorted geographically over the past two decades.
For full mechanics, read our companion explainer on the Texas primary system and the beginner's guide to Texas elections.
How to Find Your Polling Place
Most Texas counties — including Harris, Dallas, Tarrant, Bexar, Travis, Collin, Denton, Fort Bend, El Paso, Hidalgo, and dozens of others — participate in the Countywide Polling Place Program. That means on Election Day you may vote at any open polling location in your county, not just one assigned precinct. Smaller and rural counties still assign precinct-specific polling places. Always check before you go.
Use the Secretary of State's 'My Voter' portal at teamrv-mvp.sos.texas.gov/MVP — or check our voting locations page for county links.
Find Your Districts and Representatives
Texans live inside multiple overlapping districts: congressional, state Senate, state House, State Board of Education, county commissioner precinct, ISD trustee district, and city council district. The Secretary of State's voter portal lists all of them by your registered address.
To contact officials once you know them, see our representatives page and the contact legislators directory.
What's on the Ballot in 2026
- Governor of Texas
- Lieutenant Governor of Texas
- Attorney General of Texas
- Comptroller of Public Accounts
- Commissioner of the General Land Office
- Commissioner of Agriculture
- Railroad Commissioner (one seat)
- U.S. House of Representatives — all 38 Texas seats
- Texas State Senate — 15 of 31 seats
- Texas State House — all 150 seats
- Court of Criminal Appeals seats and several Texas Supreme Court seats
- State Board of Education (selected seats)
- Local: county commissioners, district attorneys, sheriffs, ISD trustees, city councils where on the cycle
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I register to vote online in Texas?
- No. You can update your existing registration's address online, but the initial registration must be filed on paper with your county voter registrar.
- Do I need to declare a party to vote in the primary?
- Texas does not have party registration. You declare a party only by picking that party's primary ballot on primary day — it then locks you into that party's runoff.
- How early can I vote?
- Early voting starts about 17 days before Election Day for the primary and the general election.
- What if my name is not on the rolls when I show up?
- Cast a provisional ballot. You then have six days to provide proof of eligibility to the county registrar.
- Can I take my kids to the polls?
- Yes. Texas law specifically permits voters to bring children under 18 into the voting booth.
Official Sources
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Elections Desk
Elections & ballots
The Elections Desk tracks every election Texans actually vote in — federal, state, ISD, city, MUD, and constitutional amendments. We publish the calendars, ID rules, and district maps Texans need to cast an informed ballot.
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