SOS 101: Voting by Mail in Texas
Oct. 12—AUSTIN — On Wednesday, Texas Secretary of State John Scott released the third installment of 'SOS 101,' a series of educational videos on the voting process in Texas ahead of the Nov. 8 General Election.
In the new video, Scott provides an overview of voting by mail in Texas, including who is eligible to cast a ballot by mail, ID requirements for voting by mail, and how county officials work to protect the security and integrity of mail ballots cast in an election.
Scott also visits with Parker County Elections Administrator Crickett Miller, who provides a step-by-step account of the mail ballot process at the county level and offers helpful tips for Texas mail voters.
The video can be seen at: tinyurl.com/y6j85nhd
Texas voters who are eligible to vote by mail must provide: (1) a Texas Department of Public Safety-issued Texas Driver License, Personal ID or Election ID Certificate number; OR (2) the last 4 digits of their Social Security Number on both their Application for a Ballot by Mail and mail ballot carrier envelope. As long as one of the ID numbers provided matches what is on the voter's registration record, the voter's ABBM and ballot can be accepted.
"Remember, if you're eligible and planning to vote by mail, you must make sure your Application for a Ballot by Mail is received by Friday, October 28th at your county Early Voting Clerk's office," Scott says in the video.
"Please take the time to read the instructions your county gives you carefully before putting your ballot in the mail. Don't forget to provide an ID number, under the flap of the carrier envelope, to protect the security of your personal information."
"When in doubt, fill both out," Elections Administrator Crickett Miller recommends in the video. "In case you don't remember which number is on your voter registration record, we can use either."
