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Engaging and expanding the electorate across generations to register voters, get out the vote and challenging the barriers that have historically and systemically blocked our access to civic participations, especially among marginalized communities.

Houston in Action members are coordinating make voter registration, turnout, and access for Houston-area eligible voters fair and equitable.

The 2020 General Election comes at unprecedented times. Its results will shift the course of United States history. More than ever, we work toward our collective vision of a Houston and Harris County region in which systems that have historically discriminated, especially on the bases of race, sex, and economic status, are no longer barriers to accessing civic participation. And during this election period, one where the number of eligible voters who are registered and who cast their vote is reflective of the demographic make-up of Harris County. We all have a right to influence the systems that impact our lives, and our work is to make that possible.

Shareable Voter Education Links

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How will you vote in 2020?

Find a voting center near you

HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT VOTING? HAVE A CONCERN OR ISSUE TO REPORT? CALL:

Harris County Voter Hotline: 713-755-6965
Election Protection (English): 866-687-8683
Protección electoral (español):888-839-8682
Asian Languages: 888-274-8683
Arabic: 844-925-5287
American Sign Language (video call): 301-818-8683
Disability Rights Texas: 888-796-8693

For the latest on 2020 Election in Harris County, visit harrisvotes.com

How do I check to see if I’m registered to vote?

Harris County Resident? Check the Harris County Tax Assessor's site by visiting houstoninaction.org/vrcheck

Texas resident outside of Harris County? Visit votetexas.gov.

I have questions about voting from home, or vote-by-mail, where should I look for more information?

Download the Harris County Clerk’s Frequently Asked Questions About Voting by Mail pdf.

How do I request a mail-in ballot? 

• You can find the application and steps to vote from home, or vote-by-mail, on the Harris County Clerk's office website HERE. 

Am I eligible to vote by mail? 

• Voters with underlying conditions such as diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, heart disease would still qualify as they are at particularly high risk to COVID and have an underlying health condition.
• If you’re a college student that is registered to vote at your college address (campus housing or off-campus), but you are back home, you are eligible to request an absentee ballot to vote in the county of your college.

What do I need to be able to cast a regular ballot? (provided by VoterRiders)

Any of the following documents are valid:

• Photo ID (current or expired up to 4 years, though it can be expired more than 4 years if you are 70 years or older):
• TX driver’s license
• TX Election ID Certificate
• TX Personal ID Card
• Handgun License
• Military ID Card
• US Passport Book or Card
• US Citizenship Certificate (Citizenship Cert. does not expire)
• Voter registration certificate
• Certified US birth certificate
• Current utility bill or bank statement, paycheck, or government document including check (with voter’s name and ANY address)
• Any other government document showing the voter’s name and an address (e.g., an out-of-state license, a government employee ID, etc.) may be used with an accompanying complete and signed reasonable impediment declaration (an election officer is not permitted to question the reasonableness of your impediment to getting an ID).

What assistance is available for voter ID questions?

• Download Voter ID info cards from VoteRiders in English and in Spanish for all 50 states and DC
• Voters with any voter ID questions, or those in need of assistance to secure their ID, should contact VoteRiders’ expert-staffed Voter ID Helpline. Call or text 844-338-8743
• Voter can also get help through VoteRiders’ FB Chatbot (http://m.me/VoteRiders). It can also be used through other platforms, you can find more information HERE

Who can I call about voting or ballot questions, or to see if my ballot was received? 

• You can call the Harris County Clerk’s office with questions and to check to see if your ballot has been received by calling 713-755-3150
• You can also visit 1001 Preston 4th Floor, Suite 444 and provide proper ID 

Do I have the right to vote if I have a felony conviction?

• If you’re off paper - you have the right to vote. If you have had a felony conviction and have done your time and you’re free, you are eligible to vote. Have questions? Reach out to H-Town Power at (832) 298-4248. "...once a felon has successfully completed his or her punishment, including any term of incarceration, parole, supervision, period of probation, or has been pardoned, then that person is immediately eligible to register to vote."
• A conviction on appeal is not considered a final felony conviction.
• Deferred adjudication is not considered a final felony conviction.
• Mere prosecution, indictment or other criminal procedures leading up to, but not yet resulting in final conviction, are not final felony convictions.

Who can I call if I have questions about voting in my County? 

• Call Mi Familia Vota at 1-833-868-2667

When will ballots be mailed out?

Domestic ballots will begin to be mailed out in mid-September for those who have submitted applications by that time. If you submit an application after mid-September, your ballot will be  mailed out within seven (7) days of your application being received. Voters outside the United States: Your ballots will be mailed on or before September 26 (the 45th day before Election Day), or within seven (7) days of your application being received: https://harrisvotes.com/Docs/VotingInfo/VotingByMailFAQs_en-US.pdf

What is the deadline for requesting a ballot?

You can apply to Vote by Mail at any time, but our office must receive (not just postmarked) your application by October 23 in order to send you a mail ballot for the November General Election.

You can also drop off your application in-person to any of our County Clerk office locations across Harris County. Due to potential delays with the postal service, PLEASE DO NOT WAIT – APPLY NOW

Where can I return my ballot in person?

A completed mail ballot MUST be returned to the Harris County Clerk’s Office in the Official Carrier Envelope provided to you.

In-person drop off at Harris County Election Headquarters at NRG (NRG Arena – Hall D, NRG Pkwy, Houston, TX 77054)

1. During regular business hours,
2. During Early Voting period: Mondays through Saturdays from 7 am - 7 pm, and

Sundays from 12 pm – 7pm, or

1. On Election Day (November 3, 2020) from 7 am – 7 pm
2. You must present an acceptable form of photo identification
3. If a voter does not possess and cannot reasonably obtain an acceptable form of photo identification, the voter may show a List B identification and complete a reasonable impediment declaration (RID)
4. Only the voter may deliver their ballot in person

For more information

If I request an absentee ballot, can I still vote in person later?

You may vote in person even if you applied for a Vote by Mail ballot, but you can only vote once. To vote in person, take your Vote by Mail ballot to a voting center to surrender it and receive a regular ballot. If you do not have the mail ballot with you, you may still vote in person using a provisional ballot.

How do I properly fill out my absentee/mail ballot?

When you receive your TX ballot remember to sign it in the proper location and use the secrecy envelope to secure it first before putting in the return envelope. Some counties provide postage, but you may need to provide your own stamp. We recommend you mail your ballot by Oct. 20 or drop it off at your local election office.

Can I track the status of my absentee/mail-in ballot?

You can track the status of your TX mail-in ballot to make sure it arrived and was submitted correctly by contacting your county elections office: https://harrisvotes.com/Tracking

What is the deadline for returning a completed absentee ballot?

Ballot must be postmarked by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day and must be received by 5:00 p.m. on November 4 (the day after Election Day).

There is an alert than mail in Harris County may be delayed, it is recommended that you return your ballot in person after October 20th.

When and where can I Early Vote?

For the November 2020 General Election, Early Voting begins on Tuesday, October 13th, and continues through Friday, October 30th.

Any qualified voter may vote in person at the main early voting polling place or at any other designated early voting branch location during designated times. Click here to find Early Voting locations.: https://harrisvotes.com/Map?lang=en-US

I moved recently, can I still vote?

If you moved within your TX county, you must notify the voter registrar. if you moved to a new TX county or from out of state, you must re-register! For more info: https://www.votetexas.gov/register-to-vote/did-you-change-something.html 

Any other issues with voting send them to the Election Protection Hotline: 866-OUR-VOTE

We advise that you report any voting issues or direct your question to the experts at the Election Protection Hotline (866) OUR-VOTE: 866-687-8683. You can call or text with your questions.

What excuses are acceptable to vote absentee?

TX does require an excuse to vote absentee or by mail. These are the applicable excuses: https://harrisvotes.com/vbmfaq

How do I find information for my local election office?

You can find your local TX election office information here by county: https://harrisvotes.com

I still haven't received my ballot in the mail. What do I do?

If you did not receive your ballot please contact your TX county election office: https://harrisvotes.com/?lang=en-US#Contact

What is a provisional ballot?

Provisional Ballots are a fail-safe mechanism for voters who arrive at the polls on Election Day and whose eligibility to vote is uncertain. They are also referred to as “challenge ballots” or “affidavit ballots” in some states. When there is uncertainty about a voter’s eligibility—the potential voter’s name is not on the voter rolls, a required identification document isn’t available or other issues—the election official is required to offer the voter a provisional ballot instead of a regular ballot, which is kept separate and not counted until verified as a legitimate vote.

First Day of Early Voting by Personal Appearance
Tuesday, October 13, 2020

Last Day to Apply for Ballot by Mail (Received, not Postmarked)
Friday, October 23, 2020

Last Day of Early Voting by Personal Appearance
Friday, October 30, 2020

Last day to Receive Ballot by Mail
Tuesday, November 3, 2020 (Election Day) at 7:00 p.m.

General Election Day
Tuesday, November 3, 2020

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• Submit your voter engagement event to our regional calendar
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The following Houston in Action members and partners have been funded and trained for Census activities