HOUSTON – When mobility challenges make voting difficult, Texas offers a solution: curbside voting.
After receiving a question from local residents George and Susan, we looked into how this option can help voters who may struggle to enter polling sites.
George and Susan’s situation: George recently contacted us with a question. In his email, he explained that his 77-year-old wife Susan, who had requested a mail-in ballot, had not yet received it.
According to their county election office, Susan would need to cancel her original mail-in ballot request in person before a new one could be issued—a difficult task given her mobility challenges.
To help, we reached out to the county election office on behalf of George and Susan, and they promised to connect with the couple to resolve the issue.
If you or someone you know is in a similar situation—where mail-in voting isn’t feasible, and entering a polling place may be a challenge—curbside voting could be the solution. Here’s how curbside voting works:
How to use curbside voting
- Notify your polling location: Call ahead to your polling site, letting them know that you’d like to curbside vote.
- Voting from your vehicle: When you arrive, an election official will bring your ballot directly to you.
- Submit your ballot safely: Once you have completed voting, hand your ballot to the election official, who will ensure it is securely placed in the ballot box. If you have a companion with you, they can submit it on your behalf.
Deciding to vote in-person instead of by mail
If you requested a mail-in ballot but decide to vote in person instead, you still have options:
- Bring your mail-in ballot to the polling location: Hand your unused mail-in ballot to an election judge, who will cancel it so you can vote in person.
- No mail-in ballot in-hand? If you don’t have your mail-in ballot, you can still vote in person by completing a form to cancel your mail ballot application. An election judge will guide you through this process.
Important reminders for mail-in ballots
For those submitting mail-in ballots, remember they must be postmarked by 7 p.m. on Election Day and received by 5 p.m. the following day to count.
For more information on curbside voting and other voting options, check with your county election office or visit VoteTexas.gov.