Table of Contents
Below is the text from the Easy Voting How-To Guide: Your Vote Matters. You can also download the picture book version of the guide.
What is voting?
Having your voice heard.
Can I vote?
You are:
- 18 years old or older.
- A citizen of the United States.
- Not a convicted felon (unless you are done with your sentence).
- Have not had your ability to vote taken away by a judge through guardianship.
Guardianship
Do you have a guardian?
- Yes
- No
- Do not know
Do you know if you have the right to vote?
- Yes
- No
- Do not know
Things you vote on
People (these people will make decisions that affect you):
- President
- Senator
- Representative
- Governor
- Mayor
- City Council
- School Board
Other things you vote on:
- Propositions [Laws]
- Constitutional Amendment [changes to the rules of the United States
How to learn about candidates
- Read the newspaper
- Watch TV
- Listen to the radio
- Ask friends and family
- Social media
What’s important to you
To help you choose who to vote for, think about things that are important to you.
Are they:
- Where you live
- Jobs
- Transportation
- Healthcare
Registering to vote
Before you can vote in an election, you must register. You can ask for help to register.
Places you can register:
- Library
- Post Office
- Voter Registrars Office
Voting by mail
- People with disabilities and those over 65 can vote by mail.
- You must send a vote by mail application to your county voting clerk before each election or you can complete an annual application which you only do one time per year.
- You can get a vote by mail application from your County Voting Clerk, the Secretary of State’s Office, or Disability Rights Texas.
- Ask for help if you need it.
On voting day
- Find a ride to your voting place.
- You will need to bring identification such as a state-issued drivers license or ID, state-issued election identification certificate, or voter registration certificate with a disability exemption to vote.
- Vote!
Voting rights
- You can bring someone with you to help.
- You can ask for a provisional [temporary] ballot if you are told you can’t vote.
- Every polling place must be accessible to people with disabilities. They must also have an accessible voting booth.
Voting responsibilities
- Make sure you are registered to vote.
- Know the issues and the candidates.
- Ask questions if you need help.
- Be a role model as an educated voter.
- Help someone else learn to vote.
- Celebrate your choice and your voice.
Disability Rights Texas Voter Hotline
If you have questions about your voting rights or need to report a problem voting call 1-888-796-VOTE (8683) or e-mail vote@drtx.org.
Disability Rights Texas
2222 West Braker Lane
Austin, TX 78758
1-888-796-VOTE (8683)
1-866-362-2851 (video phone)
VOTE@DRTx.org
Funded by the Help America Vote Act of 2002
Last updated: March 7, 2023
Date created: March 26, 2020
Publication Code: HA11
www.DRTx.org
Statewide Intake: 1-800-252-9108
Sign Language Video Phone: 1-866-362-2851
Purple 2 Video Phone: 512-271-9391
Online Intake available 24/7: intake.DRTx.org
Disclaimer: Disability Rights Texas strives to update its materials on an annual basis, and this handout is based upon the law at the time it was written. The law changes frequently and is subject to various interpretations by different courts. Future changes in the law may make some information in this handout inaccurate.
The handout is not intended to and does not replace an attorney’s advice or assistance based on your particular situation.
To request this handout in ASL, Braille, or as an audio file, contact us.
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