Texas Secretary of State John Scott held a press conference in Austin on September 20 — National Voter Registration Day — to raise awareness about voter education in the state, highlighting the “Vote Ready” campaign.
Through social media content, paid TV advertisements, an outreach tour, community partnerships, and radio advertisements, the state-sponsored advocacy campaign aims to help voters learn about voting ID requirements and more.
“I want to ensure that all Texans are informed, prepared, and ready to make their voices heard,” Scott shared in the press release. “Regardless of how you vote — whether it’s in person or by mail — you have to identify yourself when you vote in Texas.”
He explained that the campaign’s goal is to “make sure that all eligible Texas voters understand the ID requirements so they can vote successfully and easily in the upcoming November General Election.”
Texas law lets voters use one of seven acceptable forms of ID at voting polls. Approved photo IDs that can be used by Texas voters include:
- Texas driver’s 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
- United States passport (book or card).
If a Texan does not have one of those seven documents, they may still be eligible to vote if they fill out a Reasonable Impediment Declaration (RID) (PDF) and present it with an alternate document supporting their identity claim. Examples of acceptable documents include a bank statement, a utility bill, a paycheck, a birth certificate, or a government check.
When voting by mail, Texans must provide either the last four numbers of their social security number, a Texas driver’s license number, an election identification certificate number, or a Texas personal identification number (PIN).
Texans must meet specific criteria to vote by mail. They must be:
- 65 years of age or older on election day
- Sick or disabled
- Expecting to give birth within three weeks before or after election day
- Absent from the county of registration during the early voting period and on election day
- Civilly committed under Chapter 841 of the Texas Health and Safety Code
- Confined in jail but otherwise eligible.
The “Vote Ready” campaign began in August of 2022. The tour utilizes a mobile digital truck that is taken from city to city to share voting information.
Running through November of 2022, the touring truck will make stops at various community events, such as fairs, festivals, sports games, and senior expos. Upcoming tour stops, according to the Vote Texas website, include Dallas, San Antonio, El Paso, San Marcos, and Lubbock.
The General Election will take place on Tuesday, November 8.
