Early voting for Texas’ May 26 primary runoff elections begins Monday, May 18, and runs through Friday, May 22.
Voters will decide key races, including the high-profile Republican U.S. Senate matchup between incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton, as well as contests for attorney general and other offices.
Election Day is Tuesday, May 26.
Early voting locations across Texas, including in Dallas County, open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. each day. Registered voters may cast ballots at any early voting site in their county of residence.
The primary runoff follows the March 3 primaries, where no candidate received a majority in several races. Only voters who participated in a party’s March primary may vote in that party’s runoff, though those who sat out the primary may choose either party’s ballot.
Key Races and Polling
The marquee contest is the Republican U.S. Senate runoff. A University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs poll conducted April 28–May 1 found Paxton leading Cornyn 48% to 45% among likely GOP runoff voters, with a margin of error of ±2.8 percentage points and 7% undecided, as The Dallas Express reported at the time.
Other notable Republican runoffs include the attorney general race (U.S. Rep. Chip Roy vs. state Rep. Mayes Middleton) and the Railroad Commission race (Jim Wright vs. Bo French). Democratic runoffs feature lieutenant governor (Vikki Goodwin vs. Marcos Vélez) and attorney general (Nathan Johnson vs. Joe Jaworski).
Several congressional and legislative district runoffs also appear on ballots in parts of the state, as detailed by The Texas Tribune.
No comprehensive early voting turnout figures were available as of Sunday, since voting begins Monday. Historical data from prior runoffs show participation is typically lower than in the initial primary.
Voting Logistics in Texas and Dallas
Voter ID requirements remain consistent for early voting and Election Day: Voters must present one of seven acceptable forms of photo ID, such as a Texas driver’s license, Texas election identification certificate, Texas personal identification card, Texas handgun license, U.S. military ID card with photo, U.S. citizenship certificate with photo, or U.S. passport (book or card). IDs must be current or, for voters aged 18-69, expired no more than 4 years ago. Voters 70 and older may use an expired ID of any age if otherwise valid.
Voters without an acceptable photo ID may present a supporting document and complete a Reasonable Impediment Declaration or cast a provisional ballot.
Dallas County specifics: The county uses a countywide vote center model for early voting. Registered Dallas County voters may vote at any early voting location in the county. Hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, May 18–22. A list of locations is available on the Dallas County Elections Department website. Voters can find their sample ballot, locate vote centers, and check registration status at dallascountyvotes.org or votetexas.gov.
Data from the Texas Secretary of State’s Office and county reports will track turnout as early voting progresses. Results from the May 26 election will determine nominees for the November general election.
