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3. When do I have to re-register to vote?
Texas has an
automatic voter registration renewal system. After you are registered,
you will remain registered as long as you do not move or change your
mailing address. New voter registration certificates are mailed to all
registered voters every two years. If you have moved, it will not be
forwarded by the post office, but will be returned to the county voter
registrar, and the voter’s registration will be suspended. Therefore,
if you move you must notify your county voter registrar of your new
address, or if you move to another Texas county, you must re-register
in
your new county of residence.
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4. What is the last
day to register to vote and still be able to vote in the next election?
There
is no length of residency requirement before registering to vote in
Texas. To
vote in an upcoming election, the properly completed voter registration
form
must be postmarked 30 days before the upcoming election to be valid. In
person
registration must also be completed 30 days before an election.
You
may fill out and print an online Voter
Registration
Application form. You must mail or hand deliver the voter
registration application to the Nueces
County Voter
Registrar. You may also pick up a voter registration
application at many
post offices, libraries, Texas department of public safety offices, or
Texas
department of human services offices throughout the state.
If
you moved within the same county where you are currently registered,
you must
file the new address information in writing with your voter registrar
or you
may submit the change online.
If you miss this deadline, you may return to your old precinct to vote,
but you
will be required to complete a "statement of residence" confirming
your new address in your new precinct.
If
you moved to a new county, you must re-register in your new county of
residence
to be eligible to vote in the election. If you miss this deadline, you
may be
eligible to vote a "limited" ballot. A limited ballot is available
only during the early voting period. The limited ballot application
will also act
as a voter registration application. Contact the Nueces
County Voter
Registration official for more information.
If
you are a student who
spends several weeks or months a year in different locations, but you
want to
vote in Texas, you will need to decide which place in Texas is the
geographic
location you consider to be your permanent home. This location should
be where
you intend to return after any temporary absence. When you are
describing your
residence on the voter application, you are making a factual statement
to the
best of your knowledge and belief. You are presumed under Texas law to
be in
the best position to make a factual determination concerning where your
residence is for registration purposes. However, you cannot register in
more
than one location; if you register in one county but put another Texas
county
as your home on the application, your application will be forwarded to
the
Texas county of your residence.
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5. When does Early Voting start and end?
In
person early voting is available to any registered voter in Texas
beginning on
the 17th day (12th day before a May election) before an election and
ending on
the fourth day before Election Day. No excuse is needed to vote early
in
person.
More
information on early
voting can be found on the Texas
Secretary of State website.
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6. Where can I vote early?
To
find your early voting location, visit the Nueces
County
website or contact the county clerk:
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7. What type of identification do I need to vote?
You are
required to show your voter registration certificate in order to cast
your vote. If you have lost or misplaced your certificate, you must
show another form of identification. Acceptable forms of identification
include:
• A driver’s license or personal identification card issued by the
Texas department of public safety
• A similar document issued to you by an agency of another state,
regardless of whether the license or card has expired
• A form of identification containing a photograph
• A birth certificate
• U.S. citizenship papers
• U.S. passport
• Official mail addressed to you from a government agency
• A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check,
paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and address
• Any other form of identification presented by the secretary of
state’s office
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8. Can I vote absentee?
To qualify
for an absentee ballot, you must be:
• Absent from your county of residence on Election Day and during the
early voting period
• Sick or have a disability that prevents you from voting in person
without assistance
• 65 or older
• Confined to jail serving a misdemeanor sentence; or confined to jail
without bail pending trial for a felony or appeal of a felony conviction
You
must request an application for ballot by mail (ABBM) from
an early
voting clerk or from the Texas Secretary
of State’s office. Once received, read the instructions
carefully, complete
the ABBM form and return to the early voting clerk in your county by
mail,
common carrier or fax. The application must be received by the early
voting
clerk between the 60th day and the seventh day before an election (or
the last
business day before the seventh day if it falls on a weekend or a
holiday.)
Overseas
citizens and U.S.
military personnel can find information on how to register to vote and
request
an absentee ballot at the Overseas
Vote Foundation.
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9. What provisions are made for people with disabilities?
If you have
a sickness or physical condition that prevents you from voting without
personal assistance or voting could negatively impact your health, you
are eligible to vote using the early voting by mail materials on
election day, at the main early voting polling place, or at your
precinct polling place.
If you are
physically unable to enter the
polling place, an election official may deliver the ballot to you at
the entrance or curb of the polling place. If you are physically unable
to mark your ballot, or cannot read the ballot, you are eligible for
assistance. You may choose anyone as an assistant except your employer
or an officer of your union, or an agent of either. The assistant must
take an oath of assistance administered by an election official. The
assistant may read the ballot to you and mark your ballot. If you do
not choose your own assistant, two election officials (of different
political parties in the General Election) may assist you. Poll
watchers and inspectors can observe the assistance by election
officials.
An
interpreter may be used if you and the election official cannot
speak the same language. The interpreter must be a registered voter of
the county, must take the oath of assistance and may interpret for any
number of voters. Under HAVA, all Texas counties must provide one
direct electronic voting machine (DRE) at each polling place for use by
voters with visual disabilities, so they may cast their ballot without
assistance. These machines are equipped with headphones and a keypad.
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10. When do I vote on a provisional ballot?
You are
eligible to vote a provisional ballot if:
• You claim to be an eligible voter, but your name does not appear on
the list of registered voters, and your registration cannot be
determined by the voter registrar
• You are a designated first-time voter on the list of registered
voters, but are unable to produce the required identification
• You have applied for a ballot by mail, but have not returned it or
cancelled it with the main early voting clerk
• You vote during extended polling hours ordered by a state or federal
court
• You are registered, but are attempting to vote in a precinct other
than the one in which you are registered
• You do not present a voter registration certificate or any other
acceptable form of identification
• You are registered in the precinct, but your address is not located
in the political subdivision conducting the election
• You voted in another party's primary in the primary election
If you claim
to be registered, but your name is not on the list of registered
voters, the presiding judge shall call the voter registrar to determine
if you are registered. If registration can be confirmed, and you can
show identification, you may vote a regular ballot, or be directed to
the correct precinct if you are in the wrong precinct. You may vote a
provisional ballot, but you must be informed that it will not be
counted if:
• You registered in a different precinct
• It is indicated on the voter registration list that you voted by mail
• You have no identification
Texas does
offer a limited ballot, but it is not considered a provisional ballot.
Limited ballots are available if you have moved from one Texas county
to another and are registered to vote in the former county of
residence, but your voter registration in the new county will not be
effective by election day due to the 30 day required period between
registration and the election. This limited ballot is available only
during early voting by personal appearance or by mail. The limited
ballot contains only offices or propositions to be voted on statewide,
or offices or propositions of territorial units of which you were a
resident both before and after your move.
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11. Does my employer have to give me time off to vote?
Employers
must grant employees paid leave to vote on Election Day, unless polls
are open two hours before or after regular working shift. Polling
places will be open from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm.
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12. What is the first day I can legally display a campaign
sign on my property?
Campaign signs can
legally be displayed 90 days before and election.
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13. When to I have to remove a campaign sign from my property?
Campaign signs should
be picked up within 10 days after the election.
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14. Can I legally display a campaign sign in my
yard even if
my homeowner’s association says I can’t?
Yes.
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