Vote by Mail

Step 1: Confirm your voter registration

• To confirm your registration, go to the Texas Secretary of State’s Am I Registered? Tool.
• If you aren’t listed as active, you are not registered. Please register! See Voter Registration. 

Step 2: Determine if you qualify to Vote by Mail 

In Texas, to vote by mail, a voter must have a qualifying reason. A voter may vote by mail if they:

• will be away from their county on Election Day and during early voting;
• are sick or disabled;
• are 65 years of age or older on Election Day; or
• are confined in jail, but eligible to vote;
• NEW!  Expecting to give birth within three weeks before or after election day.

Per the Texas Secretary of State's Election Advisory of April 6, 2020
One of the grounds for voting by mail is disability. The Election Code defines “disability” to include “a sickness or physical condition that prevents the voter from appearing at the polling place on election day without a likelihood of needing personal assistance or of injuring the voter's health.” (Sec. 82.002). If a voter believes they meet this definition, they can submit an application for ballot by mail. 

No judgments or withholding of judgments in the various court cases changed the above

 Step 3: Apply for a Ballot by Mail

In Texas, to vote by mail, a registered voter must complete an Application for Ballot By Mail (ABBM).

Important Things To Know

• If you are 65 years or older, or if you a sick or disabled, you only need to apply once for the entire year.
• If you will be out of the county during early voting and election day, or if you are confined to jail but eligible to vote, you will need to apply for each election.
• Ballots will be mailed 30-45 days before election day, or by 7 days after the office receives the application, whichever is later.
• ALL Ballot By Mail Applications EXPIRE each year on December 31st. You will need to reapply after January 1st to continue to receive mail-in ballots.

How to Get an Application for Ballot By Mail 

• You may download and print the application
• El Paso County - English
• El Paso County -Spanish
  
• All other Texas counties

Tips for Filling Out the Application for Ballot By Mail

• If you check "Disabled" - DO NOT WRITE IN YOUR DISABILITY.
• Have a ballot mailed to the address where you actually are. Include your contact information in case there is a problem with your application. NEW! Counties may contact voters if there is an issue with their application or ballot. 
• Mark the annual box for voters 65 years of age or older and voters with a disability. Mark the election you will be voting in. 
• If it is the Primary Election then check the Democratic Primary or the Republican Primary.
• Check the “any resulting runoff” to automatically receive a ballot. Students living away at school check “address outside the county” box.
• Sign and date Section 5. Avoid any confusion by election officials and sign both your application and your actual ballot in the same way.
• Write the dates you are out of the county where you are registered. For example, dates away at school.
• If you were unable to sign the application and someone witnessed your signature, that person must complete Section 6.
• If someone helped you complete the application or mailed the application for you, that person must complete Section 6.

NOTE:  If you are submitting your application for ballot by mail (ABBM) by fax or email, the original, hard copy of the application MUST be mailed and received by the early voting clerk no later than the 4th business day after it was originally submitted.

Step 4: Become an informed voter

• Go to VOTE411.org, the League’s online, interactive voters guide for nonpartisan information on candidates and ballot issues. 
• During Federal elections, the League supplies printed nonpartisan Voters Guides at area libraries.
• No phones are allowed at the polls, so print out or make a list of your selections.

Step 5: Tips for filling out your ballot successfully

• Complete your ballot using a blue or black pen, not a pencil.

Step 6: Options for returning you ballot

• Place your voted ballot in the Ballot Envelope and seal it.
• Place Ballot Envelope in the enclosed pre-addressed carrier envelope.
• Seal carrier envelope and sign where indicated exactly as you signed the application for ballot by mail.
• Make sure the Elections Office receives your ballot on or before Election Day by either:
  • Using the appropriate postage and mailing it via USPS or other common carriers such as FedEx or UPS, etc.

  OR

  • You can also hand-deliver your sealed return envelope to your local Elections Office during regular business hours. You will need to show a valid photo ID to do so.

Step 7: Check that your Ballot by Mail was received

• El Paso County:
  • Go to Texas Secretary of State: Ballot by Mail Tracker
    
  • Call (915) 546-2154
    

Step 8:  Learn what to do if you decide to vote in person instead

• Take your Vote by Mail ballot with you to the polling station and turn in to the voting clerk. You will be allowed to vote a regular ballot.

• If you lose or forget your Vote by Mail ballot, you may cast a provisional ballot.