You can vote by mail in Texas if you are 65 or older, sick or disabled, out of your county during voting, expecting to give birth around Election Day, or confined in jail but eligible to vote. Your application must be received by Friday, October 23, 2026, and it must include an ID number that matches your voter record.
Last updated: October 2026 · Application deadline: October 23 · Election Day: Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Who can vote by mail in Texas?
Texas does not offer mail voting to everyone. You qualify if one of these applies to you:
- You are 65 or older on Election Day
- You are sick or have a disability that makes voting in person difficult without help or risk to your health
- You will be away from your county for the whole early voting period and on Election Day (for example, students studying out of county, or travel)
- You are expecting to give birth within three weeks before or after Election Day
- You are confined in jail but still eligible to vote
Key dates for November 3, 2026
- 1Oct 23: application must be received by your county
- 2Nov 3, 7 pm: ballot postmarked, or hand-delivered by you
- 3Nov 4, 5 pm: mailed ballot must be received
How to vote by mail, step by step
- 1Get the application. Download the Application for Ballot by Mail from the Texas Secretary of State or ask your county elections office to mail you one.
- 2Fill it out and add your ID number (see below). Sign it.
- 3Send it to your county's early voting clerk so it arrives by October 23. Mail it early. A postmark is not enough.
- 4Mark your ballot when it arrives, put it in the official carrier envelope, and write your ID number again on the envelope.
- 5Return it by mail or hand-deliver it yourself, then track it online.
What ID number do I need?
You must write one of these numbers on both your application and your ballot envelope:
- Your Texas driver's license, Texas personal ID or Election Identification Certificate number, or
- The last 4 digits of your Social Security number
Use the number you gave when you registered to vote. If you're not sure, write both. Do not use your voter registration (VUID) number. A federal appeals court restored this requirement in August 2026, and a missing or mismatched number is the most common reason applications and ballots get rejected.
65 or older? Apply once for the whole year
If you're voting by mail because you are 65+ or disabled, you can check the "annual application" box. That sends you ballots for all elections in your county for the calendar year.
How do I return my mail ballot?
- By mail: postmarked by 7 pm on Election Day and received by 5 pm on November 4. Mail it at least a week early to be safe.
- In person: deliver it yourself to your county's early voting clerk while polls are open on Election Day. Bring a valid ID.
How do I track my ballot or fix a problem?
Use the Texas Ballot by Mail Tracker to check the status of your application and ballot. If your ID number was missing or didn't match, you can fix it in the tracker by entering your Texas driver's license or ID number and the last 4 digits of your Social Security number. Your county will also contact you if there's a problem, so watch your mail and phone.
Quick checklist
- Check you qualify for mail voting
- Application received by October 23
- ID number on the application and the ballot envelope
- Ballot signed and sealed in the official envelope
- Mailed a week early, or hand-delivered with ID on Election Day
- Ballot status checked in the tracker. See your full ballot in our Civic Center
Call the nonpartisan Election Protection hotline
More on your rights as a voter: our Election Protection page →
Frequently asked questions
Can anyone vote by mail in Texas?
No. Texas only allows mail voting if you are 65 or older, sick or disabled, out of your county for the whole voting period, expecting to give birth within three weeks of Election Day, or confined in jail but still eligible to vote.
When is the deadline to apply for a mail ballot in Texas?
Your application must be received by your county's early voting clerk by Friday, October 23, 2026. A postmark is not enough.
What ID number do I put on my mail ballot?
Your Texas driver's license, state ID or Election Identification Certificate number, or the last 4 digits of your Social Security number. Not your voter registration (VUID) number. It must match your voter record.
When does my mail ballot have to arrive?
If mailed, it must be postmarked by 7 pm on Election Day (November 3) and received by 5 pm on November 4. You can also hand-deliver it yourself to your county's early voting clerk while polls are open on Election Day, with a valid ID.
How do I check if my mail ballot was received?
Use the Texas Ballot by Mail Tracker. You can also use it to fix a missing or mismatched ID number.
This post is general voter information from SAAVETX EF, a nonpartisan organization, and is not legal advice. Check official rules at VoteTexas.gov.