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Need help voting? Try Texas Curbside Voting for easy access

Need help voting? Try Texas Curbside Voting for easy access

HOUSTON – When mobility issues make voting difficult, Texas offers a solution: street voting.

After receiving questions from local residents George and Susan, we looked at how this option could help voters who struggle to get to the polls.

George and Susan’s situation: George recently asked us a question. In his email, he explained that his wife, Susan, 77, who asked for a mail-in ballot, had not yet received it.

According to the county elections office, Susan had to personally cancel her initial mail-in ballot request before a new one could be issued — a difficult task given her mobility issues.

To help, we contacted the County Electoral Office on behalf of George and Susan, and they promised to contact the couple to resolve the issue.

If you or someone you know finds yourself in a similar situation — when voting by mail is not possible and getting to the polling station can be difficult — street voting may be the solution. Here’s how onboard voting works:

How to use street voting

  • Report your polling place: Call your polling station and tell them you want to vote on the street.

  • Voting from your car: When you arrive, an election representative will bring you your ballot.

  • Submit your ballot securely: After you have finished voting, hand your ballot to a representative of the election commission, who will ensure that 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 rather than by mail

If you submitted a postal vote request but chose to vote in person instead, you still have options:

  • Bring the sent ballot to the polling station: Take your unused ballot to an election judge, who will void it so you can vote in person.

  • No postal ballot? If you do not have a mail-in ballot, you can vote in person by completing the form to cancel your mail-in ballot application. An election judge will guide you through this process.

Important reminders about mail-in ballots

Those sending ballots for voting by mail remember that in order to be counted, ballots must be placed by 7:00 PM on Election Day and received by 5:00 PM the following day.

For more information about street voting and other voting options, contact your county elections office or visit VoteTexas.gov.

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