How to vote in the Austin area for the November 5 election

Voters have been thinking about the presidential election for months. Local election campaigns don't typically attract as much attention. But in the Austin area, key positions like Austin mayor and Travis County district attorney are on the ballot, as are multimillion-dollar funding proposals for schools and child care.

If you care about the cost of housing in your neighborhood, the way streets are built and changed, or how much money teachers get, you can make a difference in these local races.

Here's what you need to know:

What's on the ballot?

KUT has compiled voter guides for three counties. Each guide includes information on the area's biggest races, as well as links to sample ballots:

Would you like to see your personalized sample ballot? Enter your address below or click this link.

Important dates

• October 21st to November 1st – Early Voting
• October 25th – Deadline for submitting an absentee ballot application (received, not postmarked)
• November 5th – Election Day

Am I registered as a voter?

You can visit the Texas Secretary of State's website to verify your registration anywhere in the state. If you are found not to be registered, the deadline for this election has passed – but you can visit the Vote Texas website to learn how to register for future elections.

When and where can I vote?

You must vote at a polling place in the county where you live. Early voting runs from October 21st to November 1st.

Travis County Early voting locations are open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. On the last two days of early voting, some locations will be open until 10 p.m

Below is a map:

You can check wait times live on the Travis County website.

Find Williamson County Voting locations and times can be found on the county website.

Find Hays County Voting locations and times can be found on the county website.

What do I bring with me to the election?

Please be sure to bring photo ID with you when voting. Acceptable forms of identification include:

• Texas driver's license
• Texas voter ID card
• Texas ID card
• Texas handgun license
• US military ID card containing your photo
• US Citizenship Certificate with your photo
• US passport

The ID card can be expired for up to four years. If you are 70 or older, you can bring a photo ID that has long expired.

If you had difficulty getting an ID, you can bring the following alternatives to choose from:

• Government document showing your name and address, e.g. B. Your voter registration certificate
• current electricity bill
• Bank statement
• Government check
• Paycheck
• certified birth certificate or court-recognized birth certificate

All these documents can be either a copy or the original. If you use one of these, you will be required to sign a form stating that you had a reasonable obstacle to obtaining an ID card.

What not to do when voting

Remember that you are not allowed to use cell phones, cameras, computers or other recording devices within 30 meters of voting booths. If you plan to keep some notes on your phone, print them out instead.

You also may not wear any clothing or accessories that relate to any candidate, political party or on the ballot.

Vote by postal vote?

In Texas, you can only vote by mail if you:

• be away from the county where you are registered during early voting and on Election Day
• are sick or disabled
• Expect to give birth within three weeks before or after Election Day
• are 65 years or older on election day
• are in prison or a civil detention center but are otherwise eligible

The deadline for submitting an application for a postal vote is October 25th. To vote by mail, print out the “Application for Absentee Voting” or submit an application for mailing online. Fill out the required fields and sign the date with your name. Then, mail the completed application to your county's early voting clerk. For more information, visit the Texas Secretary of State's website.

The League of Women Voters of the Austin Area has also compiled a guide to absentee voting for voters in Central Texas, which can be found on the organization's website.

Once you receive your mail-in ballot, there are a few additional deadlines you should keep in mind to ensure your ballot is received on time:

• Postmark: November 5th, 7 p.m
• Contribution received: November 6th by 5 p.m
• Personal reception: November 5th until 7 p.m

Once you return your mail-in ballot, you can check its status on the Texas Secretary of State's website.