2022 Texas Primary Election: What you need to know to vote on March 1
Texans will be heading to the polls today to vote in the party primary elections.
Statewide, we will be voting for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, land commissioner, agriculture commissioner, comptroller, and one railroad commissioner.
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Locally, voters will be choosing which candidates will represent their party in the November election for congressional and legislative district offices, judicial seats, and the State Board of Education.
But voters need to be prepared before casting their ballots.
We have put together a guide with everything you need to know to be able to vote in Texas for the 2022 Primary Election, including important dates, sample ballots, and early voting locations. Below we answer the frequently asked questions and more regarding voting.
What is a primary election?
In a primary election, voters select who will be their party's nominees in the November general election.
Texas is an open primary state, meaning voters can cast a ballot in either the Democratic or the Republican primary election no matter which party they're registered with, but not both.
Voters will choose among their chosen party's candidates to see who will represent the party in their corresponding race in the November election.
Propositions on a primary ballot are mainly to get a feel for the party's opinion on issues.
Am I registered to vote in Texas?
In order to vote in Texas, you must be a registered voter. To see if you're already registered to vote, click here.
The deadline to register to vote in the March 2022 Primary Election was Monday, Jan. 31.
When are polls open on 2022 Texas Primary Election Day?
The polls in Texas are open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Anyone in line at the time the polls close will be allowed to cast their ballot.
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Where is my polling place for 2022 Texas Primary Election Day?
Your assigned polling place is based on where you live. Visit your county's election page for the polling locations and sample ballots.
View your county's polling locations and sample ballots here.
You will also be able to find election day voting locations by visiting the state's webpage, which will be populated with voting sites a few days before election day. Or, you may want to contact the Election Official for State and County Elections in your county.
Tarrant County takes on new importance for Texas primaries
Texas Democrats have high hopes of turning the state blue and a key to that might be Tarrant County. In fact, that is where Democratic candidate for governor, Beto O'Rourke, has his primary watch party. Good Day discussed the election with longtime political reporter for the Fort Worth Star Telegram and Man About Town, Bud Kennedy.
What photo ID do I need to vote?
In order to vote in person during early voting or on election day, Texas voters will be asked to present an acceptable form of photo ID. Here is a list of the acceptable forms of photo ID:
- Texas Driver License issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
- Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS
- Texas Personal Identification Card issued by DPS
- Texas Handgun License issued by DPS
- United States Military Identification Card containing the person’s photograph
- United States Citizenship Certificate containing the person’s photograph
- United States Passport (book or card)
For voters aged 18 to 69 years, photo ID can be expired for up to four years. For voters aged 70 and older, photo ID can be expired for any length of time if otherwise valid.
If you don’t have one of these acceptable forms of photo ID and can’t reasonably obtain one, you may qualify for a Reasonable Impediment Declaration by showing a copy or original of one of the following approved IDs:
- Copy or original of a government document that shows the voter’s name and an address, including the voter’s voter registration certificate;
- Copy of or original current utility bill;
- Copy of or original bank statement;
- Copy of or original government check;
- Copy of or original paycheck; or
- Copy of or original of (a) a certified domestic (from a U.S. state or territory) birth certificate or (b) a document confirming birth admissible in a court of law which establishes the voter’s identity (which may include a foreign birth document).
After presenting one of these supporting forms of ID, the voter must execute a Reasonable Impediment Declaration.
Important dates for March 2022 Texas Primary Election
Tuesday, March 1: 2022 Texas Primary Election Day
Tuesday, March 1: Last day to receive mail-in ballot
Past dates:
Monday, Feb. 14: In-person early voting begins for the 2022 Primary Election
Friday, Feb. 18: Last day to apply for a mail-in ballot (received, not postmarked)
Friday, Feb. 25: Last day for in-person early voting for the 2022 Primary Election
Can I vote early by mail?
Not everyone can vote by mail in Texas. It is limited to voters who are one of the following:
- 65 years of age or older on Election Day;
- Sick or disabled;
- Expecting to give birth within three weeks before or after Election Day;
- Absent from the county of registration during the Early Voting period and on Election Day;
- Civilly committed under Chapter 841 of the Texas Health and Safety Code; or
- Confined in jail, but otherwise eligible
For the March 1, 2022 Texas Primary Election, the last day your application could be received by your Early Voting Clerk was Friday, February 18, 2022, in order for you to have received a mail ballot.
When returning a completed mail ballot, make sure to complete the ID field that is located under the flap of the carrier envelope your county sent you with your ballot.
What's the deadline for completed mail ballots?
Completed mail ballots must be postmarked by 7 p.m. on March 1. They can also be delivered in person on election day.
You can track the status of your completed mail ballot by clicking here.
Military and overseas voters
The deadline to receive ballots mailed within the United States from non-military and military voters who submitted a mail ballot application is 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 3, if the carrier envelope has a postmark showing it was in the mail by 7 p.m. March 1.
Different deadlines apply to the last day to receive ballots sent by the following:
(1) Non-military and military voters who mailed ballots domestically and submitted an ABBM;
(2) Non-military and military voters who mailed ballots from overseas and who submitted an ABBM;
(3) Non-military voters who mailed ballots from overseas and who submitted a Federal Postcard Application ("FPCA"); and
(4) Military voters who mailed ballots domestically or from overseas and who submitted a FPCA.
Ballots in category (1) must be received by the early voting clerk by March 3.
Ballots in categories (2), (3), and (4) must be received by the early voting clerk by March 7.
Ballots in categories (1), (2), and (3) must bear a postmark indicating the ballot was mailed by 7 PM on March 1.
Ballots in category (4) do not need to have any postmark.
Click here for all the details on special provisions for military and overseas voters.
Voters with special needs
Click here for the special needs information on the state's election website to ensure that you are fully informed on the services available to you.
Student voters
Student voters often have concerns over residency for voter registration purposes. Information on student residency issues is available on this webpage.
Convicted felons
In Texas, a convicted felon regains the right to vote after completing his or her sentence. Therefore, once you have completed the punishment phase (including any term of incarceration, parole, or supervision, or completed a period of probation ordered by the court), you would be eligible to register and vote in the state of Texas.
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