Here is a list of the acceptable forms of voter ID:
- Texas driver license issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
- Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS
- Texas personal identification card issued by DPS
- Texas handgun license issued by DPS
- United States military identification card containing the person’s photograph
- United States citizenship certificate containing the person’s photograph or
- Passport
With the exception of the U.S. citizenship certificate, the identification must be current or have expired no more than 4 years before being presented for voter qualification at the polling place.
Here is a list of the supporting forms of ID that can be presented if the voter cannot obtain, and has a reasonable impediment or difficulty to obtaining one of the forms of acceptable photo ID:
- Certified Birth Certificate (Copy or original)- a certified domestic (from a U.S. State or territory birth certificate or (b) a document confirming birth admissible in a court of law which establishes your identity (which may include a foreign birth document).
- Current Utility Bill (Copy or original)
- Bank Statement (Copy or original)
- Government Check (Copy or original)
- Original Paycheck (Copy or original)
- Government document with your name and an address (Copy or original, including those if it contains a photograph) Some Examples Include;
- Current or Expired Voter Registration Certificate –With Voter’s Name and Address
- Driver Licenses from other states
- ID cards issued by federally recognized Native American tribes(If ID contains an address)
- DPS Receipts (without a Photo)
- For Voters aged 18-69, expired Texas DPS –issued Driver licenses or personal ID Cards (expired over 4 years)
- Public college or university IDs With Voter’s Name and Address
- State/Federal/Local employee ID cards With Voter’s Name and Address
- Library cards With Voter’s Name and Address
After presenting a supporting form of ID, the voter must execute a Reasonable Impediment Declaration.
Procedures for Voting:
When a voter arrives at a polling location, the voter will be asked to present one of the seven (7) acceptable forms of photo ID that is current or expired no more than four years. If a voter has not been able to obtain one of the seven (7) acceptable forms of photo ID, and has a reasonable impediment or difficulty to obtaining an acceptable form of photo ID, the voter may present a supporting form of ID and execute a Reasonable Impediment Declaration, noting the voter’s reasonable impediment to obtaining an acceptable form of photo ID, and stating that the voter is the same person on the presented form of supporting form of ID.
Election officials will still be required by State law to determine whether the voter’s name on the identification provided matches the name on the official list of registered voters (“OLRV”). After a voter presents their ID, whether it’s an acceptable form of photo ID or a supporting form of ID, the election worker will compare it to the OLRV. If the name on the ID matches the name on the list of registered voters, the voter will follow the regular procedures for voting.
If the name does not match exactly but is “substantially similar” to the name on the OLRV, the voter will be permitted to vote as long as the voter signs an affidavit stating that the voter is the same person on the list of registered voters.
If a voter possesses an acceptable form of photo ID or Supporting forms of documentation but does not have it at the polling place, the voter will still be permitted to vote provisionally. The voter will have (six) 6 days to present an acceptable form of photo identification to the county voter registrar, or fill out the natural disaster affidavit referenced in the Exemption/Exceptions section below), or the voter’s ballot will be rejected.
Exemption/Exceptions:
- Permanent Exemption for voters with a disability:
Voters with a disability may apply with the county voter registrar for a permanent exemption. The application must contain written documentation from either the U.S. Social Security Administration evidencing he or she has been determined to have a disability, or from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs evidencing a disability rating of at least 50 percent. In addition, the applicant must state that he or she has no valid form of photo identification. Those who obtain a disability exemption will be allowed to vote by presenting a voter registration certificate reflecting the exemption. Please contact your voter registrar for more details at 214-819-6389.
- Temporary Exemption for Religious Objection or Natural Disaster:
Voters who have a consistent religious objection to being photographed and voters who do not have any valid form of photo identification as a result of certain natural disasters as declared by the President of the United States or the Texas Governor, may vote a provisional ballot, appear at the voter registrar’s office within six (6) calendar days after election day, and sign an affidavit swearing to the religious objection or natural disaster, in order for your ballot to be counted. Please contact your county voter registrar for more details at 214-819-6389. These exceptions are temporary and good for one election only.
