Who Can Vote By Mail?
You may vote early by mail if you are registered to vote and meet one of the following criteria:
- 65 years of age or older on Election Day
- Sick or disabled
- Expected to give birth within three weeks before or after Election Day
- Away from the county of residence on Election Day and during the early voting period
- Confined in jail, but eligible to vote
In Texas, voters who are 65 years of age or older or are disabled may submit an annual ballot by mail application to the early voting clerk starting on the first day of a calendar year. Temporarily disabled voters may submit a ballot by mail application for a specific election at any time in the year of the election for which a ballot is requested, but not later than the close of regular business in the early voting clerk’s office or 12 noon, whichever is later, on the 11th day before election day unless that day is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal state or national holiday, in which case the last day is the first preceding regular business day. Eligible applicants will receive a ballot in the mail and must return it to the early voting clerk. The voted ballot must be delivered to the County Clerk’s Office via mail, or common or contract courier by 7:00 pm on Election Day.
Who Qualifies For An Annual Application For Ballot By Mail?
Applicants who are 65 years of age or older or are disabled qualify to apply for Annual Application for Ballot By Mail (ABBM). Choosing the “Annual” option ensures these applicants will receive a mail ballot for all elections held during a calendar year. Annual applications may be submitted starting the first day of a calendar year (January 1) and not later than the 11th day before Election Day.
When Should I Apply For Ballot By Mail?
Applicants who do not qualify to submit an “Annual” ballot by mail application may submit an application for a single election starting the first day of the calendar year (January 1) and not later than the 11th day before Election Day. If the 11th day is a weekend or holiday, the deadline is the first preceding business day.
How Do I Submit My Application For Ballot By Mail?
Regular mail:
A completed mail ballot MUST be returned to the Travis County Elections Office in the Official Carrier Envelope provided to you. It may be returned in any of the following manners:
-
Regular residential mail via United States Postal Service
- Ballot must be postmarked by 7:00 pm on Election Day and must be received by 5:00 pm on the first mail delivery day after Election Day
-
In-person drop off at Travis County Elections Building (5501 Airport
Blvd, Austin, Texas 78751) on Election Day only from 7:00 am – 7:00
pm
- You must present an acceptable form of photo identification
- If a voter does not possess and cannot reasonably obtain an acceptable form of photo identification, the voter may show a List B identification and complete a Reasonable Impediment Declaration (RID)
- Only the voter may deliver their ballot in person
-
Common or contract carrier (such as personal courier, or FedEx or UPS, or
other contracted mail service)
- Ballot must be received by 7:00 pm on Election Day
- If the carrier provides receipt mark indicating a time before 7:00 pm on Election Day, it may be received by 5:00 pm on the first mail delivery day after Election Day.
Important Notes
A voted ballot postmarked by Election Day must be received by the early voting clerk no later than 5:00 pm on the next business day after Election Day. If there is no postmark, early voting clerk must receive these ballots by 7:00 pm on Election Day. Ballots from civilians abroad must be received by the early voting clerk no later than the 5th day after Election Day. Ballots from Military voters must be received by the early voting clerk no later than the 6th day after Election Day.
On ELECTION DAY mail voters may deliver their mail ballot from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm to the early voting clerk’s main office (5501 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78751). Mail voters who choose the in-person delivery option will be required to provide an acceptable form of identification (TEC 63.0101).
About FPCA
Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) applications qualify U.S. citizens who are serving in the military or residing outside of the country to receive mail ballots for all elections in which they qualify to vote.
This type of application is limited to:
- U.S. citizens residing outside of Travis County:
- Active-duty military, spouses and dependents
- Members of the Merchant Marines, spouses and dependents
- Members of the Texas National Guard, spouses and dependents
- Members of a National Guard of another state, spouses and dependents
- Members of the military reserves on active-duty, spouses and dependents
-
U.S. citizens residing overseas (anywhere outside of the territorial United States):
- Nonmilitary temporarily overseas
- Nonmilitary permanently overseas*
*Voters who indicate they are U.S. citizens residing overseas and do not intend to return are only eligible to vote on federal races (Sec 114.002, Texas Election Code).
The FPCA is valid for one calendar year (last day of December) and must be resubmitted every time a voter changes their mailing address.
To participate in an election taking place within a calendar year, an FPCA may be submitted starting on January 1 of that year.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the FPCA online submission, please email the County Clerk's Office at [email protected].
For additional information, visit the Federal Voting Assistance Program’s website at www.fvap.gov or the Texas Secretary of State’s website at VoteTexas.gov » Military & Overseas Voters.