How to apply to vote by mail

Savannah Wesley, Editor-in-Chief|September 10, 2020

  • Step 2: Fill out sections 1-4. This is personal information such as your name and address.

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  • Step 3: When filling out section 5, “Reason for voting by mail”, be sure to mark the box in which you match the criteria. For college students who can’t go home to vote, that is the box that says “Expected absence from the county.”

    Graphic by Savannah Wesley
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  • Step 4: Fill out box #6b, “ONLY Voters Absent from County or Voters Confined in Jail.” The application also gives this instruction. Mark the election in which you are wanting to vote for. If it is for the 2020 Presidential Election, mark the box that says “November Election.”

    Graphic by Savannah Wesley
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  • Step 5: Fill out box #8. The application also gives you this instruction. Fill out the date in which you can begin and end receiving mail at the address you want your ballot to be mailed to.

    Graphic by Savannah Wesley
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  • Step 6: Finish the application by filling out sections 9 and 10 where you will sign and date the application.

    Graphic by Savannah Wesley
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  • If someone helped you fill out the application or mailed it for you, have them fill out section 11.

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For the 2020 Elections, many states are offering voters the option to vote by mail in light of the pandemic. Texas is one of six states that are not allowing their citizens to vote this way with a few exceptions. According to texas.gov, in order to vote by mail, a voter must be:

  • 65 years or older,
  • disabled,
  • be out of the county on election day and during the period for early voting by personal appearance,
  • or be confined in jail, but otherwise eligible

Those who match this criteria must send in an Application for Ballot by Mail in order to receive their mail-in ballot. College students who are living on campus or are not in their home county during time in which in person voting is available can apply for mail-in ballots.

Here’s how that works:
Step 1: Click the link provided or go to texas.gov to download the application
Step 2: Fill out sections 1-4. This is personal information such as your name and address.

Step 3: When filling out section 5, “Reason for voting by mail”, be sure to mark the box in which you match the criteria. For college students who can’t go home to vote, that is the box that says “Expected absence from the county.”

Step 4: Fill out box #6b, “ONLY Voters Absent from County or Voters Confined in Jail.” The application also gives this instruction. Mark the election in which you are wanting to vote for. If it is for the 2020 Presidential Election, mark the box that says “November Election.”

Step 5: Fill out box #8. The application also gives you this instruction. Fill out the date in which you can begin and end receiving mail at the address you want your ballot to be mailed to.

Step 6: Finish the application by filling out sections 9 and 10 where you will sign and date the application.

If you had someone help you mail or fill out the application, have them fill out section 11.

Step 7: Submit the application either in person, by mail, fax, email or Common Contract Carrier. Send it to the Early Voting Clerk who is the County Clerk or the Elections Administrator for your county. If you are unsure who that is, this link will take you to a list of County Clerks Office contact information.

Once you have been approved, you should receive a ballot by mail in which you should fill out and send back as soon as possible.