By Noor Adatia
As Election Day approaches, you may be wondering what you need to bring to the polls.
This year’s midterm elections take place Nov. 8, and the deadline to register to vote is Oct. 11. And in Texas, voter identification is required.
If you’re planning to vote in person, you will be required to show a form of photo ID to a poll worker. Here’s what you need to bring, whether your ID has to be up to date and what to do if you don’t have any form of acceptable ID:
What are the acceptable forms of ID?
- Texas driver’s license
- Texas identification card. To apply for a state ID card, you will need to show proof of citizenship, state residency, identity and Social Security number.
- Texas handgun license
- U.S. military ID, with photograph
- U.S. citizenship certification, with photograph
- U.S. passport
- Texas election identification certificate — which you can apply for at no charge. To apply for an EIC, visit a driver’s license office and fill out an application, which involves presenting identification and a citizenship verification document. EICs are valid for six years and are not available to people with the above forms of identification.
Is it okay if my ID is expired?
It depends. For most voters, your ID may be expired for no more than four years. For voters over the age of 70, expired photo identification is acceptable, if the identification is otherwise current.
What happens if I don’t have an acceptable ID?
If you do not have one of the seven acceptable forms of ID or cannot reasonably obtain one, Texas allows voters to present a supporting form of ID and sign a sworn statement known as a Reasonable Impediment Declaration.
These include:
- A certified birth certificate
- Valid voter registration certificate
- A current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or government document with your name and an address
Reasonable impediments include transportation issues, disability, work schedule, family responsibilities, lost or stolen ID or an acceptable form of ID not received yet.
What if I don’t have an acceptable ID or exemption?
If you don’t have any form of ID by Election Day, you can still vote by casting a provisional ballot.
In order for your vote to count, you will need to visit the voter registrar’s office within six days of the election and present one of the seven acceptable forms of ID.
There are a few exceptions to this, which are explained on VoteTexas.gov.
