US midterm elections: Voting by mail in Texas? October 23 mail ballot deadline and key dates voters need to know

Texas 2026 election deadlines: Texas voters have a few important dates to remember before the 2026 midterm elections. Election Day is November 3, but voters who plan to register, vote early or cast a ballot by mail will need to act sooner. For anyone voting by mail, October 23 is the date to circle on the calendar. Missing one of these deadlines could mean missing the chance to take part in the election, as per a report by the Courier Texas.

When do Texas voters need to act?

The first big date is October 5, the deadline to register to vote for the November 3 general election. If you are registering by mail, the application must be postmarked by October 5. Early voting comes next. It begins October 19 and runs through October 30. Voting hours can vary by county, and some counties offer weekend voting.


For people who want to vote by mail, October 23 is especially important. The application for a mail-in ballot must reach the county's Early Voting Clerk by that date. It is a received-by deadline, not simply a postmark deadline. That means voters planning to use a mail ballot should not leave the application until the last minute.

When is the Texas Election Day deadline?

Election Day falls on Tuesday, November 3. Polls are scheduled to be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters who are casting their ballots in person can vote during those hours. Mail ballots also have a November 3 deadline. Under the regular deadline, they must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day. Certain late-arriving ballots can be accepted under separate rules, including some ballots postmarked by the Election Day deadline.

For Texas voters, the easiest way to keep track is to remember the main dates: October 5 for voter registration, October 19 through October 30 for early voting, October 23 for mail-ballot applications and November 3 for Election Day.