Texas primary elections: Where to vote and what’s on the ballot

On March 3, Texas will hold its 2026 primary elections, a key process in determining who will appear on the ballot for the November election. In these primaries, Republican and Democratic voters choose the candidates who will represent their party in offices ranging from the U.S. Congress to local courts.

In a state where the Republican Party dominates state government and where many legislative and congressional districts are drawn with a strong partisan slant, the primaries are often the decisive contest. Although historically only a fraction of the more than 18 million eligible voters participate, the current political context may prompt more people to go to the polls — particularly those who lean toward Democratic candidates.

How do primaries work in Texas?

Texas has an open primary system. It is not necessary to register with a political party in advance. However, when voting, voters must choose whether to participate in the Republican or Democratic primary. They can only vote in one of them.

If no candidate receives more than 50% of the votes in any race, the two candidates with the most support will advance to a runoff election, scheduled for May 26. In that case, voters may only participate in the runoff election of the same party in whose primary they originally voted.

Key dates in the election process

• February 2: Deadline to register to vote or update your address
• February 17 to 27: Early in-person voting
• February 20: Deadline for mail-in ballot requests to be received by the county
• March 3: Election Day (7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.)
• May 26: Runoff election, if necessary

Which offices are up for election in 2026?

The primaries include an extensive list of federal, state, judicial, and local offices.

• Federal offices
• One seat in the United States Senate, currently held by John Cornyn
• All 38 seats in the federal House of Representatives, under new congressional maps redrawn in 2025

State offices (statewide elections)

• Governor
• Lieutenant Governor
• Attorney General
• Comptroller of Public Accounts
• Commissioner of the General Land Office
• Commissioner of Agriculture
• One commissioner of the Railroad Commission
• Four justices of the Texas Supreme Court
• Three judges of the Court of Criminal Appeals
• Three judges of the 15th Court of Appeals

State offices by district

• 16 state senators
• All 150 members of the Texas House of Representatives
• Eight members of the State Board of Education
• Various judges of regional courts of appeals

County and judicial offices

Depending on the county, the ballot may include:

• County judge
• County commissioners
• District attorney
• County clerk
• County treasurer
• Criminal, family, or probate court judges
• Justices of the peace and constables

In addition, parties elect internal leaders such as county party chairs and, in some cases, precinct leaders.

What’s on the ballot?

Each voter receives a different ballot based on their address and electoral district.

Counties publish sample ballots on their websites. Voters can enter their registration information to see exactly which races and candidates will appear when they vote. This is especially important following the 2025 congressional redistricting, which changed boundaries in several areas of the state.

Voter registration: requirements and address changes

To participate in the primaries, you had to be registered before February 2. U.S. citizens who meet the following requirements can register:

• Be 18 years of age or older on election day
• Not be serving a sentence for a felony (including probation)
• Have not been declared mentally incompetent by a court

If a person changed addresses within the same county, they can update their registration. If they moved to another county after the deadline, they may have limited options during the early voting period using a restricted ballot.

Where to vote on election day

Polling places will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. If a person is in line before 7:00 p.m., they have the right to vote.

Some counties allow voting at any polling place in the county; others require voters to go to an assigned precinct.

Voters can find the location of their polling place on the official VoteTexas.gov website, where they can verify their registration and enter information such as their driver’s license number or date of birth to obtain personalized information. In addition, each county publishes the addresses and hours of early voting and Election Day polling places, as well as sample ballots, on its election department website.

Identification required to vote in person

Texas requires valid photo identification. Acceptable forms of identification include:

• Texas driver’s license
• State ID card
• U.S. passport
• Military photo ID
• Photo citizenship certificate

If a voter is unable to obtain photo ID, they may sign a Declaration of Reasonable Impediment and present alternative documents, such as a utility bill or bank statement.

If you forget your ID, you may cast a provisional ballot and present your ID to the election registrar within the established deadline for your vote to be counted.

Voting by mail

Applications to vote by mail had to be received by February 20. In Texas, this option is limited to those who:

• Are 65 years of age or older
• Are ill or have a disability
• Are outside the county during the election period
• Are in eligible confinement
• Expect to give birth around the election date

What happens next?

If a race requires a runoff, it will be held on May 26. The final winners from each party will advance to the general election in November.

In many districts across the state — especially where one party dominates — the primary may be the election that determines who will hold office. Therefore, although turnout is usually lower than in November, these elections play a decisive role in the political direction of Texas.

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