Early Voting near me: Texas Early Voting begins October 19- here's where to vote, polling hours, ID rules and what voters need to know

Early voting has already started for the upcoming midterms. People in Texas can already start casting their ballots early today October 19, ahead of the November 3 2026 election. Early voting simply enables registered voters to vote before Election Day without having to give a special reason.

The early voting period runs through October 30. You need to remember that polling hours are not the same everywhere.

Here’s what to know about early voting, including how to find a polling place near you and the ID rules. The inputs are taken from Fox7 Austin, Texas Secretary of State, Houston Public Media and Axios.

Early voting starts in Texas

Early voting will be held from October 19 -October 30. The state sets minimum opening hours for main polling locations but counties can have different schedules. Voters should check their local election office before setting out.

Under the state requirements, main polling locations must be open for at least nine hours each weekday from October 19 to 23. On Saturday, October 24, they must offer at least 12 consecutive hours of voting. On Sunday, October 25, the minimum is six consecutive hours.

The rules change again for the final week. From October 26 through October 30, main polling locations must be open for at least 12 consecutive hours each weekday.

These are minimum requirements, not a single schedule for every polling place. Check your county’s election website for the exact hours at your chosen location.

What are the early voting hours in Harris County

Harris County, which includes Houston, plans to open 75 locations for early voting. Registered voters can cast their ballots at any designated early voting site in the county.

The schedule lists voting hours are as follows:

• 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. from October 19 through October 24.
• 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. for Sunday October 25,
• 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. October 26 through October 30.

For Election Day on November 3, the county plans to have more than 600 polling locations open.

Where can you find early voting near you

If you’re wondering where to vote early, start with your county election office or the Texas Secretary of State’s My Voter Portal. The online tool allows voters to check their registration and find early voting locations.

The portal is expected to list polling places two days before early voting begins. You may need to enter your name, county, date of birth and ZIP code to find your information.

In most counties, you can vote at any designated early voting location within the county where you are registered. Election Day rules may be different, so check your county’s instructions before visiting a polling place.

What ID do you need to vote in Texas

Voters casting ballots in person will generally need an accepted form of photo identification.

These include the following:

• Texas driver’s license
• Texas personal ID card
• Texas Election Identification Certificate
• Texas handgun license
• U.S. passport
• U.S. military ID with a photo
• U.S. citizenship certificate with a photo

If you are ages between 18 to 69, the photo ID must be current or have expired no more than four years ago. Voters for age 70 and above can use an otherwise acceptable ID even if it has been expired for longer.



If you do not have an approved photo ID and cannot reasonably obtain one, you may be able to use following supporting documents:

• utility bill
• bank statement
• government check
• paycheck
• government document showing your name and address.

Followed by this, you will also need to complete a Reasonable Impediment Declaration.

Voters who cannot provide the required ID or supporting documents may cast a provisional ballot and follow the steps needed to have it counted.