What’s the purpose of the Texas ID laws?

Texas law requires a voter to present an ID to verify that the person is who they say they are. Its purpose is not to show where a person lives, or whether they are eligible to vote. Voter ID simply proves IDENTITY. 

What are the accepted forms of ID in Texas?

The accepted forms of ID are IDs issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS):

• Texas Driver License 

• Texas Election Identification Certificate 

• Texas Personal Identification Card  

• Texas Handgun License 

The other IDs accepted are ones issued by a U.S. Federal Agency:

• U.S. Military Identification Card (with photo) 

• United States Citizenship Certificate (with photo) 

• United States Passport (book or card) 

If the voter has one of these, they have to use it. 

Can you use an expired ID to vote?

Voters can use an expired ID to vote. 

• If you are under 18-69 years old at the time of voting, you can vote with an expired ID BUT it must have expired no more than 4 years ago. 

• If you are 70 years old or older at the time of voting, you can vote with an ID that has expired for any length of time. 

Am I able to vote if I don’t have one of the accepted forms of ID?

If you don’t have one of these pre-approved IDs and cannot reasonably obtain one, you will be asked to sign a special form known as a “Reasonable Impediment Declaration,” and will be asked to bring one of the following forms of identification (either a copy or original): 

• Any government document that includes their name and address;

• Out-of-state driver’s license;

• A voter registration certificate;

• Current utility bill Bank statement;

• Government check;

• Paycheck;

• Certified U.S. birth certificate; and

• Document (including foreign birth certificates) that establishes a voter’s identity.

What are the accepted reasonable impediments?

The only reasonable impediments that the state allows are:

• Lack of transportation;

• disability or illness;

• lack of birth certificate or other documents needed to obtain acceptable photo ID;

• work schedule;

• family responsibilities;

• lost or stolen photo ID; and

• photo ID applied for but not received.

If the voter has one of the accepted IDs on the previous slide, they must use it. If they have one but did not bring it with them, they have to go back home and get it. 

Is it a reasonable impediment because you don’t have the money to be able to purchase an ID?

No, because the Election Identification Certificate is free. If you don’t have money to get to the DMV, that's a lack of transportation. If you don’t have money to get birth certificates, that's a lack of birth certificates. If you can’t afford to leave your job to get an EIC, that’s work schedule, etc.

With that said, even though an Election Identification Certificate is free to obtain, the supporting documents needed to obtain the EIC cost money.

Is there an address match in the state?

There is no address matching requirement in Texas. A voter may still vote even if the address on their ID does not match the address shown in the pollbooks or where they are registered. Again, showing a photo ID is to prove identification, not a proof of residence!

What if I didn’t re-register to vote at my current address after moving?

People who moved within the county and didn’t re-register under a new address have to vote in their former precinct unless there is Countywide Polling. If that’s the case, the voter can vote anywhere in the county.

For people who moved into a new county and didn’t re-register they will only be able to vote by a limited ballot during early voting and will not be able to vote otherwise.

Can I register to vote and cast a ballot if I’m currently homeless or living in a shelter?

YES, you can register to vote by listing the location where you “reside” in Texas. For instance, you can list your shelter’s address on your voter registration form if that is your home and the fixed place you return to. If you are homeless, then you can describe the location that you return to regularly that you consider your home, such as by listing your street corner or park.

Do I need a mailing address to register to vote?

YES, but your mailing address does not have to be the same location as where you are living. You can list instead the address where you can and do receive mail if that is different from where you reside.

Can I still register to vote at my current location even if I just started living there today?

YES, you can register to vote at your current location even if you just moved there.

Can I still vote even if I don’t have an ID with my current address on it?

YES, the ID you use to vote does not need to have your current address on it.