Secretary of State Launches Statewide Voting Awareness Campaign

Texas Secretary of State Ruth R. Hughs has announced the start of a statewide tour to educate Texas voters about what they need to bring to the polls to safely cast their ballots in November. The contactless tour will utilize a 16-foot box truck displaying messaging in both English and Spanish as well as the address for VoteTexas.gov, the state’s official election website. 

“This contactless grassroots tour will help educate Texas voters on the approved forms of photo ID and ensure that Texans are able to make their voices heard this November,” Hughes stated. 

The “Ready. Check. Vote.” tour will travel approximately 3,000 miles and visit 46 cities across the Lone Star State between now and Oct. 8. 

1. Austin – Sept. 10
2. San Marcos – Sept. 10
3. San Antonio – Sept. 14
4. Junction – Sept. 15
5. Sonora – Sept. 15
6. Fort Stockton – Sept. 15
7. Van Horn – Sept. 15
8. El Paso – Sept. 16
9. Big Lake – Sept. 21
10. Midland – Sept. 22
11. Odessa – Sept. 22
12. Lamesa – Sept. 22
13. Lubbock – Sept. 23
14. Sweetwater – Sept. 23
15. Post – Sept. 23
16. Snyder – Sept. 23
17. Abilene – Sept. 24
18. Brady – Sept. 24
19. Fredericksburg – Sept. 24
20. Comfort – Sept. 24
21. New Braunfels – Sept. 28
22. Temple – Sept. 28
23. Fort Worth – Sept. 29
24. Arlington – Sept. 29
25. Grapevine – Sept. 29
26. Richardson – Sept. 29
27. Dallas – Sept. 30
28. Terrell – Sept. 30
29. Tyler – Oct. 1
30. Lufkin – Oct. 1
31. Beaumont – Oct. 2
32. Houston – Oct. 2-3
33. Three Rivers – Oct. 5
34. Corpus Christi – Oct. 6
35. Kingsville – Oct. 6
36. Brownsville – Oct. 7
37. San Benito – Oct. 7
38. Harlingen – Oct. 7
39. Pharr – Oct. 7
40. McAllen – Oct. 7
41. Edinburg – Oct. 7
42. Hebbronville – Oct. 7
43. Laredo – Oct. 8
44. Cotulla – Oct. 8
45. Devine – Oct. 8
46. Von Ormy – Oct. 8

The seven forms of approved photo ID are:

• Texas Driver License issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety
• Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS
• Texas Personal Identification Card issued by DPS
• Texas Handgun License issued by DPS
• United States Military Identification Card containing the person’s photograph
• United States Citizenship Certificate containing the person’s photograph
• United States Passport

With the exception of the U.S. Citizenship Certificate, which does not expire, the approved photo identification must be current or, for voters ages 18-69, have expired no more than four years before being presented for voter qualification at the polling place. A voter 70 years of age or older may use a form of approved photo ID listed above that has expired for any length of time if the identification is otherwise valid.

What If I Don’t Have One of the Approved Forms of ID?

If a voter does not possess one of the forms of approved photo identification and the voter cannot reasonably obtain such identification, the voter may fill out a Reasonable Impediment Declaration form, which will be available at each polling location, and present a copy or original of one of the following supporting forms of identification:

• a government document that shows the voter’s name and an address, including the voter’s voter registration certificate
• a current utility bill
• a bank statement
• a government check
• a paycheck
• a certified domestic (from a U.S. state or territory) birth certificate
• a document confirming birth admissible in a court of law which establishes the voter’s identity (which may include a foreign birth document)

The address on an approved form of photo identification or a supporting form of identification, if applicable, does not have to match the voter’s address on the list of registered voters.

If a voter meets these requirements and is otherwise eligible to vote, the voter will be able to cast a regular ballot in the election.

Voters with disabilities may apply with the county voter registrar for a permanent exemption to presenting an acceptable form of photo identification or following the Reasonable Impediment Declaration procedure at the polls. Voters with a religious objection to being photographed or voters who do not present an approved form of photo identification or follow the Reasonable Impediment Declaration procedure at the polls because of certain natural disasters may apply for a temporary exemption to presenting an acceptable form of photo identification or following the Reasonable Impediment Declaration procedure. For more details, voters may contact their county voter registrar.More information is available atl 1-800-252-VOTE (8683) or VoteTexas.gov.