2018 Elections: Early Voting For Midterm Elections Begin

Election Day is roughly two weeks away, but registered Texans may now vote.

Texas, along with 34 other states and Washington, D.C., allow some form of early voting. Voters in Bexar, Comal, Kendall, Guadalupe, Wilson, Atascosa, Medina, and Bandera counties will be deciding who they want to represent them in statewide races, including contests for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, and the U.S. Senate.

Early voting continues through Nov. 2. 

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First thing's first: Make sure you're registered by providing your voter identification number or Texas driver's license number, county of residence, and date of birth.

You need to bring one of the following seven forms of identification:

• Texas driver's license issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety
• Texas election identification certificate issued by DPS
• Texas personal ID card issued by DPS
• Texas handgun license issued by DPS
• U.S. military ID card with your photo 
• U.S. citizenship certificate with your photo 
• U.S. passport (book or card)

If you don't have a photo ID, and cannot reasonably obtain one, you can bring:

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

No need to wonder what to expect before heading to the polls. Just plug in your address, and you'll see every race for the primary you plan on voting in.

According to election officials, while it's no longer called "absentee voting," the ballot-by-mail process remains the same. 

Only specific reasons are accepted to vote early by mail and they include:

• Being away from your county on Election Day and during the hours that early voting is conducted
• Being sick or disabled 
• Being eligible to vote but are in jail

If you qualify, get an application for ballot by mail. Fill it out, sign it and then submit the application to the Bexar County Elections Department. You must apply for a mail-in ballot by the 11th day before an election — in this case, Oct. 26. The county also must receive your application by this date. All completed ballots-by-mail MUST be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day.

The early voting period allows registered voters to cast their ballots at any poll location that's convenient, within county limits. On Election Day, you must vote in your precinct. If you live in Bexar County, here's where you can find your precinct.

Hours vary based on day and location. Early voting locations in Bexar County:

There are five locations in Comal County. For more information, call 830-221-1352.

Kendall County offers curbside voting to any registered voter who has difficulty walking or standing. Curbside voters must notify the early voting clerk, at 830-331-8701, prior to arrival. The election official will bring the ballot to your car outside the polling location.

Early voting locations and times are:

There are five early voting locations throughout Guadalupe County. For more information, call 830-303-6363.

There are four early voting locations in Wilson County. Times vary by day and location.

• Floresville Office: Wilson County Election Office, 1103 4th St., Floresville
• La Vernia City Hall:  102 E. Chihuahua St., La Vernia
• Mobile voting — Poth City Hall: 200 N. Carroll St., Poth
• Mobile voting — Stockdale Community Building: 700 W. Main St., Stockdale

There are two early voting locations in Atascosa County. For more information, call 830-769-1472.

There are three early voting locations in Medina County:

• Elections Office: 1202 14th. St., Hondo
• Hondo Castroville Annex: 8366 FM 471, Castroville
• Devine Annex: 317 St. Hwy 132 N, Devine

Times vary based on the day:

• Oct. 22-Nov. 2: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Oct. 27 (Saturday): 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Oct. 30 & Nov. 1: 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

Early voting is only available on weekdays in Bandera County, at three locations. They are open from from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

• Ray F. Mauer Annex: 403 12th St., Bandera
• Medina Annex: 161 E. Parker St., Medina
• Lakehills Area Library: 7200 F.M. 1283, Lakehills

• Last day to apply for a ballot by mail is Friday, Oct. 26.
• Last day of early voting is Nov. 2.
• Ballots by mail must be received by Election Day, at 7 p.m.
• Election Day is Nov. 6.

Vince Kong can be reached at vkong@tpr.org or on Twitter @teamvincek

CORRECTION: Early voting runs through Nov. 2. TPR regrets the error.