The last day to register to vote in the General Election is quickly approaching.
The Nov. 3 General Election includes a number of high-profile state races, including the gubernatorial contest between incumbent Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and Democrat Gina Hinojosa and the closely watched U.S. Senate race between Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico.
Additionally, several local races will also be decided, including seats on the El Paso City Council and the El Paso County Commissioners Court.
The last day to register to vote in the upcoming election is Monday, Oct. 5. All registered El Paso voters are eligible to cast a ballot in the upcoming statewide races, though city and county races will only be open to residents living within the contested
districts.
Here are some things to know about registering to vote, checking your registration status, and making changes to your voter registration form.
What are the qualifications to register to vote?
The following are the requirements to be eligible to vote in Texas:
- Must be a United States citizen;
- Must be a resident of the county where you are registering;
- Must be 18 years of age or older on Election Day;
- Must not be a convicted felon, unless you have completed all of your punishment, including incarceration, parole, probation, or supervision, or have received a pardon;
- Must not have been declared by a court to be totally or partially mentally incapacitated without the right to vote.
How can I register to vote?
Voter registration applications can be downloaded online in either English or Spanish from the El Paso County Elections Department website at www.epcountyvotes.gov.
Additionally, the Elections Department will assist with walk-in registrations at its office inside the Enrique Moreno County Courthouse, 500 East San Antonio Avenue, Suite 314. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Voter registration application forms can also be found at the following sites in El Paso:
- U.S. Post Offices
- Texas Department of Public Safety offices
- El Paso Public Libraries
- Texas Health and Human Services Commission offices
- El Paso high schools
Once the voter registration application is processed, the new voter will receive a voter registration certificate from the Elections Office within 30 days.
How can I check if my voter registration is up to date?
Voter registration information can be reviewed through the My Voter Dashboard portal on the Elections Department's website.
Once there, voters will be required to enter their first and last name and date of birth or their Voter Unique Identifier (VUI), which can be found on the voter registration certificate.
How can I change my name or address?
Voter registration information can be updated online at www.votetexas.gov. Voters can also update their information by filling out a new voter registration application.
What if my registration is in suspense status?
Voters are added to the suspense list when information related to their voter registration cannot be verified, usually because of a change of residence.
Being on the suspense list does not bar a voter from casting a ballot. Voters on the suspense list can still vote in person but must complete a Statement of Residence before casting a ballot.
Voters with questions about their registration status can contact the Elections Department at 915-273-3597 or via email at epelections@epcountytx.gov.
Adam Powell covers government and politics for the El Paso Times and can be reached via email at apowell@elpasotimes.com.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Texas voter registration deadline nears as ballots approach
