.jpg)
THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW
Vot i ng should be straightforward, but recent updates to Texas election laws and ID rules can cause confusion, especially when voting by mail or using an older driver’s license.
This guide clari fies three crucial ID rules every voter needs to know: handling ID number mismatches, updating voter records after receiving a replacement license, and using expired licenses at the polls.
Avoiding the mail-in ballot “ID mismatch” If you cast your ballot by mail, Texas law requires you to write an identification number on both your Application for a Ballot by Mail (ABBM) and the back flap of your Mail-In Ballot Carrier Envelope.
When processing your application or ballot, election officials must match the ID number you write on the envelope against the specific ID number stored in your voter registration file.
Decades ago, many Texans registered using their Social Security Number (SSN). Today, many people write down their Texas Driver’s License (DL) number.
If your voter file lists your SSN, but you write your DL number on the ballot envelope (or vice versa), the system flags it as a mismatch, potentially delaying or rejecting your vote.
Another common issue is when a voter has replaced their drivers license with a Texas Personal ID card. To guarantee your ballot is accepted without delay write both numbers in the space provided on your form:
• your Texas driver’s license or personal ID number • the last 4 digits of your social security number Where to find the field: On your mail-in ballot envelope, look under the security flap before you seal it. Write both numbers down, seal the flap over them to protect your privacy, and sign. As long as one of those numbers matches what is on file, your ballot passes part of the verification.
What to do if you replace your driver’s license or ID If your Texas Driver’s License or Personal ID card was lost, stolen, or damaged and you got a replacement from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), pay close attention to your card numbers: Same DL Number: In most cases, DPS replaces a lost or damaged card using the exact same Driver’s License number. Your number does not change, meaning your voter registration record remains up to date.
New Personal ID Card: In most cases the DL was expired or returned and the new card issued is a new number. You must update your voter registration.
If your card was stolen and DPS issued you a brand-new Driver’s License number to protect against fraud, your voter registration record will still reflect your old number. You must update your voter registration.
How to update your voter registration
To ensure your new ident i f icat ion number matches your voter profile: Online: Visit the Secretary of State’s online portal (Texas.gov or TxT) to submit an online voter registration address/ ID update if you haven’t moved counties.
By Mail or In Person: Complete a standard Voter Registration Application reflecting your new driver’s license number and submit it to your local County Elections Office at least 30 days before Election Day.
Voting in-person with an expired driver’s license Many seniors wonder if they can still use their photo ID at the polls if they no longer drive or have let their driver’s license expire.
If you are 70 years of age or older, you may use ANY accepted form of photo ID (such as a Texas Driver’s License, Texas Personal ID Card, U.S. Passport, or DPS Election Identification Certificate) NO MATTER HOW LONG IT HAS BEEN EXPIRED, as long as the document is otherwise valid.
Example: If you turned 70 and your Texas Driver’s License expired 10 years ago, it is still a valid photo ID for voting in Texas. For you reference you can see more information at https://www.dps.texas. gov/section/driver-license.
Free Election Identification Certificate is a photo ID used for voting purposes ONLY. An EIC is valid for six years. There is no expiration date for certificates issued to citizens 70 years of age or older. An EIC will not be accepted to verify identity when applying for a Texas driver license or ID card. To find out more information about obtaining an Election Identification Certificate see https://www.dps. texas.gov/section/driver- license/election-identification- certificate-eic/.
