The 2026 midterm general election will take place on Nov. 3, with early voting running from Oct. 19 through Oct. 30.
Texas has over 19 million registered voters for the midterm election, a record number according to Robert Howden, the Texas secretary of state. Students can check their voter registration status at the Texas Secretary of State website.
On the ballot
Students registered to vote in Texas can vote in the U.S. House of Representatives race for candidates representing their districts and in the U.S. Senate race. Frontrunners for the U.S. Senate race include Republican candidate and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, and Democratic candidate and state Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin.
Texas student voters can also vote for candidates in the governor race; the race includes frontrunners incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott and Democratic candidate state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin. Other statewide races include lieutenant governor, attorney general, commissioner of agriculture, comptroller of public accounts, land commissioner and railroad commissioner.
Students can find more information on local races and their sample ballot on the county clerk’s website for their registered county.
Polling locations
Students registered to vote in Travis County can vote at any of the county’s registered polling locations, which can be found at the Travis County Clerk Election Division website.
Students can vote early from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on campus at the Union in room 2.214 or LBJ School of Public Affairs in Sid Richardson Hall. Students can also vote near campus at the Travis County Civil and Family Courts Facility.
On Election Day, students can vote on campus at the LBJ School and the Union, or near campus at the University Presbyterian Church, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary or the Travis County Civil and Family Courts Facility from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m..
Students can see estimated wait times for polling on the Travis County Clerk’s website.
What to bring
Students must present valid identification, which includes a Texas driver’s license, Texas election ID certificate, Texas personal ID card, Texas handgun license, U.S. military ID card with photo, U.S. citizenship certificate with photo or a U.S. passport, to vote.
Phones and other electronics are prohibited in voting stations where ballots are marked. Partisan clothing or other messaging is also prohibited in a polling location.
Students may use notes, a sample ballot or a voter guide when they vote.
Mail-in voting
Students who will be out of their registered county on Election Day can request a mail-in ballot until Friday. Students who have requested their ballot can track it on the Texas Secretary of State’s website.
To vote by mail, students must provide a valid form of ID, including a Texas driver’s license, Texas personal ID number or election ID certificate number. If a student doesn’t have a valid ID, they can provide the last four digits of their Social Security number.
Students can drop off their ballot at the Travis County Elections building on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. if they bring a valid form of ID or mail their ballot to their county’s early voting clerk. Ballots must be postmarked by 7 p.m. on Election Day and received by 5 p.m. on Nov. 4.
