Request Registration/Absentee Ballot

You may be already registered to vote. To check, go to Texas's voter registration verification website. Even if you are registered to vote, you still need to complete the form to receive an absentee ballot. You may not need to fill out this entire form. Check out the instructions below to see what information your State requires.

Open Voter Registration/Absentee Ballot Request

(Opens in a new window and requires Adobe Reader 7)

What do I fill in?

Only the following blocks are required:

Block 1: Select the category that describes you.

Block 2.a: Name (Last, First, Middle)

Block 2.e: Date of Birth

Blocks 2.f and 2.g: Your valid Texas Driver's License Number OR personal identification number issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety is required for voter registration. If you do not have either of these numbers, you must provide the last four digits of your Social Security number. If you do not possess any of these identification numbers, you must state that in Block 6.

Blocks 2.h through 2.j: Recommended but not required. Provide your contact information to allow your local election official to follow up if more information is required.

Block 3.a through 3.e: Complete street address of your Texas voting residence. A post office box is not sufficient. If your address includes a rural route, describe its location in Block 6. This address must be within the county where you claim legal voting residence.

Block 4.a: Complete address where you want your ballot sent, usually where you live now.

Block 4.c: With limited exceptions for military voters stationed in hostile fire zones, Texas does not allow you to receive your ballot by fax or email.

Block 5: To vote in primary elections, you must enter your political party affiliation. If you want to change your political party affiliation, submit a completed FPCA indicating your new party preference to the local election official. Political party affiliation is not required if only requesting absentee ballots for general elections.

Block 6: The Federal Post Card Application registers you to vote and requests absentee ballots for all regularly scheduled Federal elections for the calendar year in which it is submitted. If you do not wish to receive ballots for that length of time, you may request a ballot for each election for Federal office held. Provide any information that may assist your election official in accepting this application.

Block 7: Sign and date. No notary or witness required.

Mail

You must mail your Voter Registration/Absentee Ballot Request to a specific election official. Find your county or city in the list below to locate your election official.

Open Election Official Address List

Don't know your county? Go to the county finder.

Don't know your zip code? Go to the United States Postal Service website.

Optional: You may be able to use the Postage-Paid Envelope Template.

Open Postage-Paid Envelope Template

(Opens in a new window and requires Adobe Reader 7)

The postage paid envelope may be used if mailed in the U.S. Postal System, which includes all U.S. Military post offices (APO/FPO) overseas or through the diplomatic pouch available at U.S. embassies/consulates. Affix appropriate postage if using international mail. Template must be printed on a number 10 or larger envelope.

Fax

If you choose to fax, it is recommended that you fax the form directly to your local election official (fax numbers can be found on Texas Election website). You may also use our toll-free fax service:

Inside the U.S.? Fax to:
1-800-368-8683
(703)-693-5527
DSN 223-5527

Outside the U.S.? Show me a list of toll-free fax numbers.

Email

You may choose to email this request. It is recommended that you email the form directly to your local election official (email addresses can be found on Texas Election website)

Open Fax/Email Coversheet

(Opens in a new window and requires Adobe Reader 7)

• Want to return your voted ballot by fax or email? Texas allows you to return the voted ballot by fax, if you are a member of the U.S. Armed Forces on active duty overseas, or the spouse or dependent of the member, and you are casting the ballot from an area in which members of the Armed Forces are eligible to receive hostile fire pay or imminent danger pay, or that has been designated by the President of the U.S. as a combat zone. See Step 2 for instructions.
• You may submit the FPCA for ballot request and temporary registration by the ballot request deadline. 30 days after you submit your FPCA, you will also be registered permanently without any further action by you. Permanent registration will allow you to vote in person at the polls.
• If you have not received your absentee ballot in a timely manner use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot.
• In addition to mailing a regular ballot, Texas provides a State Write-In Absentee Ballot to any voter unable to vote in the regular absentee voting process due to military contingencies. You must request this ballot 180 or less days before the election. If you submitted a Voter Registration/Absentee Ballot Request form more than 180 days before the election, you must make another request for the special State write-in ballot. To request it, write in Block 6: “Special State Write-In Ballot.”