Voter ID and postal voting: Will voting become more difficult in the South?
Since the 2020 election, several states have tightened their voting laws, which is expected to impact the outcome of key elections in swing states.
Texans face months-long wait times — and often have to drive to another city — to get an appointment for an ID or driver’s license at the Department of Public Safety. After Rep. Erin Zwiener recently told the Statesman, “I couldn’t find anything closer than Seguin before January,” social media floodgates opened, with other Central Texas residents sharing stories of driving as far away as Cuero or Corpus Christi to get their IDs.
In an election year, this issue is even more pressing: In Texas, voters must show a government-issued photo ID at the polling place. But there is a way for people who can’t get a photo ID in time to still be able to vote. Here’s what you need to know.
What identification documents are accepted for voting in Texas?
Registered voters can use one of the following forms of identification at the polling station:
- Texas driver’s license issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
- Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by the DPS
- State identity card issued by the DPS
- Texas Handgun License issued by DPS
- US military ID with photo of the person
- US citizenship certificate with photo of the person
- US passport (book or card)
Can I register to vote if I don’t have an ID?
Yes! On the voter registration form, you have the option to enter your driver’s license/state ID number OR the last four digits of your social security number. You may choose the latter option.
What if my ID has expired?
You can vote with any of the IDs listed above for up to four years after the expiration date if you are 69 or younger. Voters over 70 can vote with an expired ID, regardless of how long it has been expired.
What if my ID shows an old address?
You can still vote with a Texas ID showing a previous address. The purpose of presenting an ID at the polling place is to establish your identity, not to prove your residency.
OK, but what if I don’t get a Texas ID before the election?
You can still vote! You just need to take the extra step of bringing another document and filling out a form at the polling station. Ask for the Statement of Reasonable Objection form when you check in at the polling station.
On the form – see what it looks like here – you’ll check the box explaining why you don’t have a photo ID. Possible reasons include lack of transportation, loss or theft of the ID, or work or family obligations. If the only available ID check appointments are far from where you live, transportation issues or your work or family obligations may affect your ability to get to a far-away DPS office.
No ID? No problem: How to vote in Texas in the 2024 election without a photo ID
What documents do you need for a “valid reason for impediment” form?
You must bring a “supporting ID.” The best option: Bring your voter registration certificate, a postcard mailed to you by your local voter registration office. It looks like this:
Your voter registration certificate will be accepted with the Reasonable Disability form because it is an official document with your name and address on it. Alternatively, you can bring one of the following documents:
- Your birth certificate
- A recent electricity bill or bank statement with your name on it
- A government check or a paycheck or
- Another official document with your name and address
What happens if I can’t find my voter registration certificate?
Don’t worry: You can have a new one mailed to you! Just contact your local election office and request a replacement voter registration certificate.
- In Travis County, call the Office of the Tax Collector and Registrar of Voters at 512-854-9473, email [email protected], or visit the Main Tax Office at 2433 Ridgepoint Drive to obtain a replacement certificate in person.
- In Williamson County, call 512-943-1630 or email [email protected].
- Call Hays County at 512-393-7310 or email [email protected].
- In Bastrop County, call 512-581-7160 or email [email protected].
- Find contact information for other county election offices in Texas here.
What type of ballot will I receive after completing the Reasonable Disability Form?
You cast your vote on a regular ballot, not a provisional ballot. Once you cast your regular ballot, it will be counted. You don’t need to take any further action.
What happens if I have a photo ID but forget to bring it to the polling place?
You cast a provisional vote. For that vote to be counted, you must return to your county election office within six days and present your photo ID.
What happens if I get into trouble at the polling station?
Call or text 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683), the hotline managed by nonpartisan voting activists, to speak with a trained volunteer who can explain the law and your options.
Aside from being able to vote, I need a Texas ID. How do I get one?
You must make an appointment with the Department of Public Safety at public.txdpsscheduler.com. However, it is not uncommon for the next available appointment to be months and miles away. Some strategies that can help:
- Check public.txdpsscheduler.com around 7:30 a.m. on weekdays and refresh frequently as appointments that others have canceled for that day will be reposted for others to take.
- Look for appointments in other cities. If you can afford the commute, they may have earlier appointments available.
- Try a third-party scheduling app, such as DriveIt, developed by Frisco teenager Sowmya Nandyala, which can help you find new appointments faster.
- If all else fails, come to the DPS office in person, but come early. People line up before 5 a.m. for the few same-day appointments available on a first-come, first-served basis. In addition, a limited number of people are offered the opportunity to wait on an in-office waiting list that will be processed by the end of the day.
What do I need to know about renewing my driver’s license or Texas identification card?
Most Texans can renew their license up to two years before it expires. In many cases, you can also renew your license online without an appointment. You can check if you’re eligible to renew online here.
DPS notifies Texans by mail when their driver’s license or ID expires in six months. If you are not eligible to renew online, look for a DPS appointment as soon as you receive this notice.
And if you end up with an extra appointment that you don’t need or can’t use…
Please go back to the website public.txdpsscheduler.com and cancel any appointments you don’t need! In June 2024, 27% of scheduled appointments at DPS offices – 173,417 appointments statewide – were missed. Making these appointments available to other customers would make a huge difference.
Why is it so difficult to get an appointment to apply for a Texas driver’s license?
The Texas Department of Public Safety launched an online scheduling system in May 2020 so people wouldn’t have to wait hours in the office for their turn to get a driver’s license or identification card. But the decline in services during the COVID-19 pandemic created a backlog of people needing to apply for or renew their IDs. And since then, the influx of new residents has increased demand for services while DPS struggles to hire the staff it needs.
“In the current labor market environment, we are challenged to find qualified applicants for open positions in driver’s license offices across the state,” DPS spokeswoman Sheridan Nolen told the Statesman. “The number of positions the positions can offer is greatly reduced by the staffing shortage.”
Some Central Texas lawmakers are exploring possible remedies. Zwiener, a Democrat from Hays County, has proposed raising the salaries of DPS employees in Central Texas, where the cost of living is higher and staffing shortages are greater than in many other parts of the state.
Democratic state Rep. Donna Howard of Austin said on social media that it was “unacceptable” that people had to wait so long for their IDs, “and that this issue must be addressed before the next session. We are exploring whether funds or personnel can be made available to provide the necessary services immediately.”
Questions or comments? Contact Metro columnist Bridget Grumet at [email protected].
