BELLAIRE • MEMORIAL • RIVER OAKS • TANGLEWOOD • WEST UNIVERSITY

Everything You Need to Know Before Heading to the Polls

By Benjamin Cohen, Contributing writer | August 8, 2016

Click the Buzz Me button to receive email notifications when this writer publishes a new article or a new article in this column is published.

Figuring out how to register to vote and where to vote can seem complicated. Here’s all the key information you’ll need for voting day, including how to find your polling location, acceptable voter ID and the important dates leading up to the Nov. 8 election.

Everyone has their own reasons for voting in any election. Recent Bellaire High School graduate and incoming freshman at Texas A&M, Matthew Baker said he’s looking forward to voting this November in the presidential election.

“I feel a strong sense of civic duty to go out and vote in perhaps one of the most important elections in American history,” he said.

You can register to vote after you have turned 17 years old and 10 months, but you have to be 18 to vote. If you turn 18 by Nov. 8, you are considered eligible to vote, but you must be registered by the deadline on Oct. 11. Baker noted that since his 18th birthday was in July, “it is an honor and a privilege to be able to participate in this year’s election.”

What College Students Need to Know

For college students who are staying in state, like Matthew, you have three options when it comes to voting. If you are registered to vote, you can either travel back to your home city and vote at your designated polling location during early voting or on election day, or you can send in an absentee ballot, which is mailed in advance when the voter is unable to be present at their assigned polling location. When registering to vote, you can also put your dorm or apartment address and vote in whichever city you attend college.

Students who are at college out of state can send in an absentee ballot or they can put their home address down and then send in an early voting ballot, since they would be away at school on election day. The biggest tip when deciding where to register to vote is to remember to only register to vote in one place. You can’t be registered to vote in your college city and your home city. Learn more about voting as a college student here.

Registering to Vote

If you are eligible to vote, but not registered, visit here and follow the instructions on how to register to vote.

If you are unsure if you are registered to vote, visit here and insert all applicable criteria to log in, where you will then be able to check your polling location, registration information, and voter registration status.

Key Dates to Keep in Mind

Here are a list of key dates leading up to the election:

Tuesday, Oct. 11: The last day to register to vote (the first business day after Columbus Day)
Monday, Oct. 24: Early voting begins
Friday, Oct. 28: Last day to apply for a ballot by mail
Friday, Nov. 4: Last day for early voting
Tuesday, Nov. 8: The last day to receive the ballot by mail by 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 8: Regular voting on Election Day is from 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

If you are in line at your polling location by 7 p.m., you are allowed to vote. See all important 2016 election dates.

Where to Vote and What to Bring

Before heading to the polls, determine your polling location. Double-check your location because they can change from election to election.

Approved forms of photo ID when you arrive at your polling location include:

Texas driver’s license (unexpired or expired within 60 days) that was issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety
Texas license to carry a handgun (unexpired or expired within 60 days) that was issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety
Texas personal identification card (unexpired or expired within 60 days) that was issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety
United States military identification card with photo (unexpired or expired within 60 days)
United States citizenship certificate with photo
United States passport (unexpired or expired within 60 days)
Texas Election Identification Certificate that was issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety

Voters who do not have a current approved form of photo identification may apply for an Election Identification Certificate from the Department of Public Safety at no charge.

If you need to update your name and/or address for your voter registration, visit here to make all changes. Note that this website will only allow you to make changes within the same county as your current registration.

If you have any questions or need help finding any other resources during this year’s election process, visit harrisvotes.com.