CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Early voting kicked off Monday with an impressive 10,000 people voting in Nueces County, alone. As you head to cast your vote over the next couple of weeks, here are some tips to keep in mind.
Not everyone is eligible to vote by mail. Here is the criteria you have to meet in order to request a mail-in ballot:
- 65 years old or older on Election Day;
- disabled
- expecting to give birth within three weeks of Election Day (before or after)
- expected absence from the county (ballot must be mailed outside the county)
- confined in jail but eligible to vote
Deadline to turn in application
Anyone who meets the criteria and wants to request an application to vote by mail must have sent in their application 11 days before Election Day. For this election, that date is Oct. 25.
Completing and submitting an application
The application can be turned in several ways:
- the voter must take it in person;
- it can be sent through regular mail
- it can be sent through a contract carrier (UPS, FedEx, etc.); or,
- you can e-mail it in. However, emailed applicants must also mail in the hard copy with an original signature within four business days. Email applications are considered "placeholders.
NOTE: Voters have to provide either their Texas ID, Texas Drivers License, EIC number, or the last four digits of their Social Security Number on both their ballot application and carrier envelope. The Nueces County Elections office recommends putting both numbers. The numbers on the application also must match voter registration record -- if not, the application will be rejected.
Deadline to return ballots
- Domestic ballots must be received by 7 p.m. Election Day, or by 5 p.m. the next business day if postmarked by 7 p.m. on Election Day.
- Overseas ballots must be received not later than Nov. 10. Ballot must be postmarked by 7 p.m. on Election Day.
- Military (domestic or overseas) ballots using FPCA must be received no later than Nov. 11.
Key dates
- Oct. 7 (deadline passed): Deadline to register to vote
- Oct. 25: Last day to apply for a mail-in ballot
- Through Nov. 1: Early voting
- Nov. 5: Election Day
New voting machines
A law passed in 2021 requires new voting equipment for this election.
This video shows the machines now being used by the Nueces County Elections office has posted this video to get residents acquainted with the machines and is providing instructions for voters in English and in Spanish.