Elections in Texas

COVID-19 & Voting
Visit our COVID-19 page to learn about voting protocols during the pandemic.
Important dates
April 1, 2021 - Last day to register to vote in May election
April 19, 2021 - First day of early voting
April 20, 2021 - Last day to apply for ballot by mail (i.e. mail-in voting)
April 27, 2021 - Last day of early voting
May 1, 2021 - Election day and postmark deadline for mail in votes
Countdown to Next Election Day
Where do you start?
Follow these steps when trying to figure out if and when you can participate in an upcoming election cycle. Texas has special voting requirements that are more strict than other states.
What's at stake?
An election brings a variety of essential issues and voting pieces to the table. Here are the seats that may be up for election and what power these positions hold:
Federal
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House of Representatives: Serves two year terms. Responsibilities include introducing bills and resolutions, offer amendments, and serve on committees
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Senate: Serves six year terms with two-thirds of senate elected every two years. Responsibilities include writing and passing laws, ratifying treaties, and confirming or rejecting the President's nominees for judgeships
State
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TX House of Representatives: Represent various smaller districts with the power to introduce taxing legislation
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TX Senate: Represent various larger districts and have the power to confirm the Governor's appointments
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State Board of Education: Setting curriculum standards, reviewing and adopting instructional materials, and establishing graduation requirements
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Governor: Highest ranking political leader in the state who is responsible for implementing state laws
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Lieutenant Governor: Presiding officer over the Texas Senate and leads the Legislative Budget Board
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Attorney General: Chief legal advisor and Chief law enforcement officer who sets law enforcement priorities for the state
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Comptroller of Public Accounts: A state's bookkeeper, fiscal organizer, and Chief financial officer
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Commissioner of Land: Manages mineral rights, state assets, and general land use as an advisor to the Governor
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Commissioner of Agriculture: Leads agriculture industry standards for the state
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Railroad Commissioner: Regulates the oil and gas industry, gas utilities, pipeline safety, safety in the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) industry, and surface coal and uranium mining
County
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County Commissioner: Controlling county property including the courthouse, hospitals, library, jail, and the equipment and facilities
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District/County Attorney: Prosecuting attorney and represents the state in a criminal case.
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Sheriff: Manages duties of countywide law enforcement through deputies.
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Constable: Preserve the peace and perform judicial duties to serve writs, warrants, and bail pieces.
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County Clerk: Acts as a recorder of all bonds, deeds, birth and death certificates, assumed names and livestock brands.
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District Clerk: Indexes and secures all court records, collects filing fees, and handles funds held in litigation, coordinates the jury panel selection process.
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County Treasurer: Receives and deposits all county revenues
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Tax Assessor-Collector: Calculates and collect property tax rates for the county including cities and schools.
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County Judge: Presiding officer of the Commissioners Court. Most have broad judicial duties. Serves as head of emergency management.
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Justice of the Peace: Hears traffic, civil cases, landlord/tenant disputes, and truancy cases.
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County Courts at Law: Held in a variety of courts that oversee topics including probate, criminal, criminal appeals, and civil court matters.
Local
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City Council: Member that governs a city or town
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School Board: A typical school board meeting will include approving the school calendar, adopting curriculum, overseeing construction and approving contracts with outside vendors.
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Mayor: Most powerful local elected office that chairs the City Council. Based upon your government system, your mayor may serve in a: Council-Manager System or a Mayor-Council system.