HOUSTON – Texas voters will head to the polls Nov. 3 for the 2026 general election, with races ranging from U.S. Senate and governor to congressional, judicial and local contests.
Your ballot will depend on where you live. Here’s what Houston-area voters need to know before they vote.
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- Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 3
- Polls: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Early voting: Oct. 19-30
- Voter registration deadline: Oct. 5
- Mail ballot application deadline: Oct. 23
RESOURCE: VoteTexas.gov » Required Identification for Voting in Person
RESOURCE: League of Women Voters Houston 2026 Voters Guide
You can check to make sure you are registered to vote in Texas here.
What dates do I need to know?
Here are the key dates for the Nov. 3 election:
- Oct. 5: Last day to register to vote or update your voter registration.
- Oct. 19: Early voting begins.
- Oct. 23: Last day to apply for a ballot by mail. The application must be received by the early voting clerk.
- Oct. 30: Early voting ends.
- Nov. 3: Election Day. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Nov. 3: Regular deadline for a mail ballot to be received is 7 p.m. Certain domestic mail ballots postmarked by 7 p.m. on Election Day may arrive by 5 p.m. Nov. 4 and still be counted.
What’s on the ballot?
The 2026 ballot includes statewide races for U.S. Senate, governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, comptroller, land commissioner, agriculture commissioner and railroad commissioner, along with races for the Texas Supreme Court and Court of Criminal Appeals.
Houston-area voters will also see congressional, Texas Senate, Texas House, judicial and local races depending on where they live.
Not sure which races you’ll vote on?
Your ballot depends on where you live. Check your sample ballot through Harris County’s election website
Statewide races
U.S. Senate
- Ken Paxton (R)
- James Talarico (D)
- Ted Brown (L)
Governor
- Greg Abbott (R)
- Gina Hinojosa (D)
- Pat Dixon (L)
Lieutenant Governor
- Dan Patrick (R)
- Vikki Goodwin (D)
- Anthony Cristo (L)
- Kevin McCormick (G)
Attorney General
- Mayes Middleton (R)
- Nathan Johnson (D)
- Tom Oxford (L)
Comptroller of Public Accounts
- Don Huffines (R)
- Sarah Eckhardt (D)
- V. Alonzo Echavarria-Garza (L)
- Shehla Faizi (G)
Commissioner of the General Land Office
- Dawn Buckingham (R)
- Benjamin Flores (D)
- Neill Snider (L)
Commissioner of Agriculture
- Nate Sheets (R)
- Clayton Tucker (D)
- Austin R. Kelly (L)
Railroad Commissioner
- Bo French (R)
- Jon Rosenthal (D)
- Arthur DiBianca (L)
Texas Supreme Court
Chief Justice
- Jimmy Blacklock (R)
- Maggie Ellis (D)
Place 2, unexpired term
- James P. Sullivan (R)
- Chari Kelly (D)
Place 7
- Kyle Hawkins (R)
- Kristen Hawkins (D)
Place 8
- Brett Busby (R)
- Gisela D. Triana (D)
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Place 3
- Thomas Smith (R)
- Okey Anyiam (D)
- Mark Ash (L)
Place 4
- Kevin Patrick Yeary (R)
- Audra Riley (D)
Place 9
- John Messinger (R)
- Holly Taylor (D)
How do I check if I’m registered to vote?
You can check your voter registration status through the Texas Secretary of State’s My Voter Portal.
You’ll need one of these combinations to log in:
- Your Texas driver’s license number and date of birth
- Your first and last names, date of birth and county of residence
- Your date of birth and Voter Unique Identifier, which appears on your voter registration certificate
If you’ve moved or your name has changed, make sure your registration information is updated before the Oct. 5 deadline. The Texas Secretary of State is urging voters to confirm their registration ahead of the deadline.
How do I register to vote?
The deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 3 election is Oct. 5, 2026.
You can get a voter registration application from your county voter registrar, libraries, post offices and other locations.
You can also complete a voter registration application online through VoteTexas.gov, but the completed application must be printed and submitted to your county voter registrar.
If you’re mailing your application, it must be postmarked by Oct. 5.
What do I need to bring to a polling place?
Texas voters should bring an acceptable form of photo identification when voting in person.
Acceptable forms of ID include:
- Texas driver’s license
- Texas Election Identification Certificate
- Texas personal identification card
- Texas handgun license
- U.S. military identification card with a photo
- U.S. citizenship certificate with a photo
- U.S. passport
For voters ages 18-69, an acceptable photo ID can be expired for up to four years. Voters 70 and older can use an otherwise valid acceptable photo ID regardless of how long it has been expired.
If you don’t have an acceptable photo ID and cannot reasonably obtain one, you may be able to vote after signing a Reasonable Impediment Declaration and providing another form of identification, such as a voter registration certificate, utility bill, bank statement, government check or paycheck.
See the full list of acceptable identification at VoteTexas.gov.
What if I moved after the voter registration deadline?
If you moved within the same political subdivision, you may still be able to vote at your previous polling location.
If you moved to another Texas county and your registration is not effective in your new county by Election Day, you may qualify for a limited ballot during early voting.
Limited ballots are available only during early voting and must be cast at the main early voting location. Eligible voters can vote on statewide races and any district offices shared by their former and new counties.
What does it mean if my voter registration is in “suspense”?
Being on the suspense list does not automatically mean you cannot vote.
Voters can generally update their address or complete a Statement of Residence when voting. Depending on the circumstances, you may have to vote at your previous polling location or use a limited ballot.
If you’re concerned about your registration, check your status here.
What do I need to know about voting by mail?
Texas limits who can vote by mail.
You may qualify if you:
- Are 65 or older on Election Day
- Are sick or have a disability
- Expect to give birth within three weeks before or after Election Day
- Will be outside your county during the early voting period and on Election Day
- Are confined in jail but otherwise eligible to vote
The deadline to apply for a ballot by mail is Oct. 23, 2026. The application must be received by the early voting clerk by that date.
If you vote by mail, you’ll need to provide an identification number on your application and the carrier envelope. This can include your Texas driver’s license number, Texas personal identification number, Texas Election Identification Certificate number or the last four digits of your Social Security number.
Learn more about voting by mail at VoteTexas.gov.
Where do I vote?
Your polling location depends on where you live.
Harris County voters can use HarrisVotes.com to find a Vote Center and view their personalized sample ballot.
Harris County Vote Centers will be open during early voting from Oct. 19 through Oct. 30:
- Monday-Saturday: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Sunday: noon to 7 p.m.
On Election Day, Nov. 3, Vote Centers will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Harris County voters are not restricted to one assigned Vote Center and can vote at any county Vote Center during early voting and on Election Day.
Can I bring notes or a sample ballot?
Yes. Harris County says voters can bring handwritten notes or a printed sample ballot into the voting booth.
Just remember to take your notes or sample ballot with you when you leave.
