If you are expecting to be out of town from February 17 to March 3, or otherwise unable to or choose to vote in person, you must request a mail ballot now. Your county's election clerk must have your application for a mail-in ballot on February 20, not just postmarked that day, so you should mail it no later than February 13. If you request a mail ballot but change your mind and vote in person, you may still vote normally in person, but only if you bring the ballot with you to the polling place to surrender it. In some circumstances, you may vote provisionally.

You must, of course, return your completed ballot to your county's election clerk no later than March 3. Postmarks may be unreliable; recent changes by the US Post Office will delay postmarks, making them unreliable markers for when something was dropped in a mailbox.

If you can, avoid the ballot by mail process entirely

As you can see, voting by mail in Texas is somewhat complicated. If you can vote in person, please do so.

Specifically, early voting in Texas is much more convenient for most people than waiting until Election Day, or even mailing in a ballot. Polling places are staffed with some of the most helpful people in the world, and they want nothing more than to help you to vote the way you want to vote.

Williamson County

The Republican Party in Williamson County now requires all voters (Republican, Democrat, or Independent) to vote only in their precinct on Election Day, rather than allow the county-wide voting freedom that most other counties in Texas enjoy. If you are planning on voting in person in WIlliamson County, please plan accordingly (and thank a Republican for the inconvenience).