What to Expect on Election Day in Texas

AUSTIN (WBAP/KLIF) – Ahead of Election Day, Texas Secretary of State John Scott is reminding voters how votes are counted and reported once polls close on Election Night.

According to Scott, results from Early Voting are submitted by Texas counties and reported first, shortly after polls close on Election Night. Results from ballots cast on or by Election Day are then reported gradually throughout the evening until 100% of precincts and polling places in all 254 Texas counties have reported.

The Texas Secretary of State’s office serves as the host of the statewide Election Night Returns portal for unofficial results reported by Texas counties on Election Night.

“Remember that every election in Texas is conducted at the county level in all 254 Texas counties, with hard-working Elections Administrators, County Clerks and thousands of dedicated poll workers all working collaboratively to safeguard the integrity of the vote count,” Secretary Scott said. “Be patient as county election officials work to report the results accurately over several hours throughout Election Night.”

Once all Early Voting results are reported, Texas counties continue to report results from ballots cast on Election Day, which are updated on the Texas SOS Election Night Returns portal every 5 minutes until 100% of precincts and polling places have reported. Under Texas law, mail-in ballots postmarked by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day may be received by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 9 to be included in the final, official canvass of votes. Additionally, mail-in ballots cast by U.S. military members and U.S. citizens voting from overseas can be received by Monday, November 14.

Election Day Voting Locations

If a county participates in the Countywide Polling Place Program voters can cast a ballot at any location in their county of residence on Election Day. If a county does not have Countywide Polling on Election Day, voters must cast their ballot at a location in their specific voter registration precinct, which is based on the residence address on the voter’s registration record. In some cases, precincts may be combined to accommodate joint local elections.

View a list of counties with Countywide Polling – or ‘Vote Centers’ – on Election Day.

If you’re a Texas voter planning to cast your ballot on Election Day, you can find your polling location by using the SOS “My Voter Portal,” which is populated with voting sites on Election Day. To view Election Day polling locations in your county, login using the ‘Am I Registered?’ section on the SOS My Voter Portal, and enter your Name, Date of Birth, County and ZIP code, or other combinations of personal information, to login. Your voting precinct number (Pct. No.) is also located next to your year of birth on your voter registration certificate.

Election Day voting hours are 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at all polling places statewide.

What To Expect At The Polling Place

Under Texas law, voters who possess one of the seven acceptable forms of photo ID must present that ID at the polls when voting in person. The acceptable forms of photo ID are:

Texas Driver License issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS
Texas Personal Identification Card issued by DPS
Texas Handgun License issued by DPS
United States Military Identification Card containing the person’s photograph
United States Citizenship Certificate containing the person’s photograph
United States Passport (book or card)