Voting in Texas requires you to present identification at the polls. Understanding what forms of ID are acceptable ensures your voting process is smooth and your voice is heard. This guide clarifies the photo ID requirements, supporting ID options, and procedures you need to follow to vote in Texas elections.
Acceptable Forms of Photo ID
Texas law mandates that voters present one of seven forms of photo identification when voting in person. These IDs must be current, or if expired, meet specific conditions. Here are the acceptable photo IDs:
- Texas Driver License (issued by Texas DPS)
- Texas Election Identification Certificate (issued by Texas DPS)
- Texas Personal Identification Card (issued by Texas DPS)
- Texas Handgun License (issued by Texas DPS)
- United States Military Identification Card (with photo)
- United States Citizenship Certificate (with photo)
- United States Passport (book or card)
For voters aged 18-69, it’s important to note that while these photo IDs are generally required to be current, an expired ID is still acceptable if it has not been expired for more than four years. This addresses the question, “Can I use an old photo ID?”. In Texas, the answer is yes, under specific conditions related to the expiration date.
For voters aged 70 or older, there is more flexibility. If you are 70 or older, an acceptable form of photo identification can be expired for any length of time, provided it is still otherwise valid. This provision acknowledges that older individuals may have photo IDs that are significantly older.
What If You Don’t Have an Acceptable Photo ID?
If you do not possess and cannot reasonably obtain one of the seven approved photo IDs, you are still able to vote. Texas law provides an alternative: the Reasonable Impediment Declaration.
You can fill out a Reasonable Impediment Declaration (RID) at the polling place. Along with this declaration, you must present a supporting form of ID. These supporting documents help verify your identity and address, ensuring your eligibility to vote.
Here are the supporting forms of ID you can use with an RID:
- Original or copy of a government document showing your name and address (this can include your voter registration certificate)
- Original or copy of a current utility bill
- Original or copy of a bank statement
- Original or copy of a government check
- Original or copy of a paycheck
- Original or copy of a certified U.S. birth certificate or a document confirming birth admissible in court (which may include a foreign birth document).
After presenting one of these supporting IDs and signing the Reasonable Impediment Declaration, you will be able to cast a regular ballot.
Voting Procedures at the Polling Place
When you arrive at your polling location, you will be asked to present one of the seven acceptable photo IDs. Remember, for voters under 70, the ID can be expired for no more than four years. For those 70 and older, the photo ID can be expired for any length of time.
If you do not have an acceptable photo ID, you will inform the election officials and state that you have a reasonable impediment. You will then be provided with a Reasonable Impediment Declaration form. After completing the declaration and presenting a supporting ID, you will proceed to vote.
Election officials are required to check if the name on your presented ID (whether photo ID or supporting ID) matches the name on the official list of registered voters (OLRV). If the names match, or are considered “substantially similar,” you will be allowed to vote.
A “substantially similar” name means that minor discrepancies are acceptable. This could include slight differences in name fields, use of nicknames, initials, or variations in middle names or former names. Election officials will also consider other information on your ID, such as your address or date of birth, to confirm your identity. If the name is substantially similar, you may be asked to sign an affidavit confirming you are the registered voter.
Provisional Ballots and What to Do If You Forget Your ID
If you possess an acceptable photo ID but do not have it with you at the polling place, you are still permitted to vote provisionally. To have your provisional ballot counted, you have options:
- Present an acceptable form of photo ID to the county voter registrar within six days of the election.
- Complete a natural disaster affidavit if applicable (in specific declared disaster situations).
Alternatively, you can choose to return home to get your photo ID and come back to vote before the polls close on election day.
Exemptions from Photo ID Requirement
Texas law provides exemptions for certain voters:
Permanent Disability Exemption: Voters with a disability can apply for a permanent exemption from the photo ID requirement. This application, made to the county voter registrar, requires documentation from the U.S. Social Security Administration or the Department of Veterans Affairs confirming a disability. Voters granted this exemption can vote by presenting their voter registration certificate that reflects the exemption, without needing to use a Reasonable Impediment Declaration.
Religious Objection or Natural Disaster Exemption: Voters with a consistent religious objection to being photographed, or those prevented from presenting photo ID due to a declared natural disaster, can vote a provisional ballot. To have their ballot counted, they must visit the voter registrar’s office within six days of the election and sign an affidavit affirming their religious objection or the natural disaster.
Frequently Asked Questions About Texas Voter ID
1. What photo IDs are acceptable for voting in person?
The seven acceptable forms of photo ID are: Texas Driver License, Texas Election Identification Certificate, Texas Personal Identification Card, Texas Handgun License, US Military ID, US Citizenship Certificate, and US Passport (book or card). For voters aged 18-69, these IDs can be expired for up to four years. For voters 70+, there is no expiration limit on acceptable photo IDs.
2. My photo ID is expired. Can I still use it to vote?
Yes, potentially. For voters aged 18-69, an acceptable photo ID can be used if it has been expired for no more than four years. For voters aged 70 and older, an expired acceptable photo ID is valid as long as it is otherwise in good order. The U.S. Citizenship Certificate has no expiration date.
3. What if I don’t have any of the acceptable photo IDs?
If you do not have an acceptable photo ID and cannot reasonably obtain one, you can vote by presenting a supporting ID and signing a Reasonable Impediment Declaration. Supporting IDs include government documents, utility bills, bank statements, government checks, paychecks, and birth certificates.
4. What is considered a “reasonable impediment”?
Reasonable impediments include: lack of transportation, disability or illness, lack of necessary documents to obtain photo ID (like a birth certificate), work schedule, family responsibilities, lost or stolen ID, or having applied for but not yet received an acceptable photo ID. You must declare one of these impediments to use the Reasonable Impediment Declaration process.
5. What if I go to vote and have no ID with me at all?
You can vote a provisional ballot. To have it counted, you must visit the county voter registrar’s office within six days of the election to present an acceptable photo ID, or if you don’t have one, follow the Reasonable Impediment Declaration procedure. You can also return to the polling place with an acceptable photo ID or supporting ID (if using RID) before the polls close on election day to vote a regular ballot.
6. What if my photo ID was lost, stolen, suspended, revoked, or expired more than four years ago?
In these situations, you do not possess an acceptable photo ID. If you cannot reasonably obtain a replacement, you can vote by presenting a supporting ID, signing a Reasonable Impediment Declaration, and casting a regular ballot.
7. My name on my ID doesn’t exactly match my voter registration. Can I still vote?
Yes. If your name is “substantially similar” to your registered name, you can vote. You may be asked to sign an affidavit confirming you are the registered voter.
8. What does “substantially similar” mean in terms of voter names?
“Substantially similar” covers minor differences in name fields, nicknames, initials, variations in middle names, or former names. Election officials will consider the overall information on your ID and voter registration to confirm your identity.
9. Are Texas Election Identification Certificates still available?
Yes, Election Identification Certificates (EICs) are available from Texas DPS offices. They are a free, acceptable form of photo ID for voting. Contact the DPS or visit their website for information on obtaining an EIC.
For any further questions, contact the Texas Secretary of State’s office at 1-800-252-VOTE (8683) or via email.
This guide aims to provide clarity on Texas Voter ID requirements, ensuring all eligible voters can participate in elections. By understanding these rules, you can be prepared and confident when you go to vote.
