AUSTIN, TX – Ahead of Election Day on Tuesday, November 3rd, the Texas Association of County Election Officials (TACEO) is reminding Texas voters what to expect at the polling place and on election night, including voter ID requirements, polling locations, using voting machines, and results reporting after polls close, as well as post-election canvass, audit, and certification processes.
"With more than 7.7 million Texans already casting a ballot in this year's election, we are seeing historic levels of turnout for a midterm cycle. County election officials and poll workers across the state have met that enthusiasm with professionalism, hard work, and integrity that all Texas voters can continue to be proud of as we head into Election Day," said Kristin Miles, TACEO President and Bastrop County Elections Administrator. “If you haven't cast your ballot and plan to vote on Tuesday, remember to find your polling place, bring an approved form of ID for voting, double-check your choices on the screen and again on your printed ballot before you cast it, and if you experience an issue, please bring it to the attention of the nearest poll worker."
Polling Hours, Locations, and Voter ID Requirements
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time. Any voter in line when polls close at 7 p.m. will be allowed to vote.
Know where you can vote. Counties approved to participate in the state's Countywide Polling Place Program allow voters to cast a ballot at any polling location in the county – often referred to as 'vote centers.' In all other counties, Election Day voters must cast a ballot at a polling place in the precinct where they are registered.
Find a full list of the 103 Texas counties participating in the Countywide Polling Place Program for the November 3rd, 2026 General Election here.
Look up your polling place options on the Texas Secretary of State's personal voter portal or by contacting your county election office.
Bring one of the seven forms of approved photo ID:
Texas Driver License
Texas Personal ID Card
Texas Handgun License
Texas Election Identification Certificate (EIC)
U.S. Military ID Card
U.S. Citizenship Certificate (with photo)
U.S. Passport (book or card)
Voters aged 18-69 can use an ID that is expired for up to four years, while voters 70 and older may use an ID expired for any length of time.
Voters who do not have and cannot reasonably obtain one of the above forms of photo ID can complete a Reasonable Impediment Declaration and show supporting documentation, such as a voter registration certificate or utility bill. Voters who cast a provisional ballot due to an issue with their ID have six calendar days after Election Day to provide ID to their county voter registrar, and will receive a written notice with instructions on this process.
Any changes to voting hours must be ordered by a Texas court. In the event of litigation over voting hours in a particular county on Election Day, a Texas District Court may order polling locations in that county to stay open later, as has occurred in previous elections. These orders come from Texas District Court Judges, not from county election officials. If a District Court orders extended voting hours, county election offices will announce those changes to the public. Check your county's elections website and be sure to monitor official social media channels, rather than secondhand reports.
Issues With Voting Machines
Reports and claims of so-called 'vote-switching' arise every election cycle, and almost always trace back to a screen calibration issue, not a change to anyone's vote. In Texas, voting machines are ballot marking devices that print a paper ballot with your choices, and votes are not recorded until a paper ballot is deposited in a scanner or ballot box. Every voter should review their choices carefully on the screen and again on the printed ballot before casting it.
"Texas county election officials proactively re-calibrate screens and rigorously test every machine before and after each election, and state law requires every voting system to produce a paper record that voters can read and that election officials can audit," said Miles. "If a voter ever sees a selection on screen that doesn't match their choice, they should alert a poll worker right away so that machine can be pulled from service and fixed by technicians the county has standing by, and voters should double-check their choices on the screen and again on the printed ballot before casting it."
Election Security and Auditing
Every ballot cast in Texas produces a paper record the voter can read, and state law requires counties to hand-count a percentage of those records against machine totals after every election – known as the Post-Election Hand Count Audit.
"The Texas Legislature has instituted some of the strongest election integrity and transparency laws in the nation, including mandatory paper records, Post-Election Hand Count Audits, Risk-Limiting Audits, and rigorous equipment certification and testing," said TACEO Executive Director Chris McGinn. "County election officials will follow those laws to the letter so Texans can trust that the results reflect the votes they cast."
Voting machines in Texas are never connected to the internet, nor do they even have the capability of being connected to the internet or any other wireless network. County election officials conduct public Logic & Accuracy testing before and after each election to confirm the equipment accurately records and counts the choices voters make. Counties also conduct a hash validation test of the voting equipment to ensure the underlying software installed in the voting systems has not been altered.
Election Night Reporting
After polls close, Texas counties first report Early Voting results, followed by Election Day results as ballots arrive at the the county's central counting station.
Texas law generally requires unofficial results to be released as soon as they are available after the polls close. However, the presiding judge of the central counting station – in cooperation with the county's chief election official – can wait until the last voter in line has cast a ballot before releasing unofficial election results.
Texas counties input vote totals for federal, statewide, and district offices in the Texas Secretary of State's Election Night Returns portal. Results in the statewide portal may be reported at different time intervals than those on county election web sites, and are reconciled as soon as possible if any discrepancies exist between updates.
Canvass and Certification Process
No result is final on election night. While media outlets and campaigns will 'call' races, every county's vote total remains unofficial until the official canvass and certification of results.
Before the canvass, counties must count every eligible ballot that arrives after Election Day, including:
Mail ballots postmarked by 7 p.m. on Election Day and received by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, November 4th;
Military and overseas ballots from eligible U.S. citizens, which may arrive up to six days after Election Day; and
Provisional ballots from voters who return within six days to show approved voter ID.
Counties then complete the local canvass, which state law requires by the 14th day after Election Day (November 17th, 2026).
For statewide, district, and congressional races, the Secretary of State tabulates county results and the Governor issues certificates of election between November 21st and December 7th. The races for Governor and Lieutenant Governor are certified by the Texas House Speaker following the convening of the next Texas Legislsature on January 12th, 2027.
Click here for additional information and resources on election procedures in Texas, including:
The Provisional Ballot Process
Activities Allowed at a Polling Location
Who Is Allowed at a Polling Location
Voting Systems and Election Security
Election Auditing
About TACEO
TACEO is a nonpartisan association representing county election officials across Texas' 254 counties, working to promote integrity, transparency, and public trust in Texas elections. Through collaborative education, innovative resources, and unwavering support for all county election officials, TACEO works to build a community marked by integrity, excellence, and public trust in our electoral system. Learn more at https://www.txaceo.org/
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