Texas Mail-Ballot Applications Due Friday; State Warns Requests Must Reach Election Clerks

AUSTIN, Texas — October 22, 2026. Texas voters who qualify to vote by mail face a Friday, October 23 application deadline for the November 3 general election. Election officials must receive a completed application by the applicable deadline; mailing one on Friday does not by itself meet the requirement.

The Texas Secretary of State’s official November 3 election law calendar says the application must arrive before the early voting clerk’s close of regular business or noon, whichever is later. Office hours vary, so applicants should confirm the cutoff directly with their county early voting clerk.

Eligibility and application rules

Texas generally restricts voting by mail to people meeting specified criteria, such as being 65 or older on Election Day, having a qualifying sickness or disability, or expecting to be outside their county during the required voting periods. The state lists eligibility rules and application instructions on its official early-voting information page.

An application for ballot by mail (ABBM) submitted by fax or emailed scan requires an additional step: the applicant generally must mail the original signed application so it reaches the clerk by the fourth business day after the electronic transmission. The state’s calendar identifies October 29 as that follow-up deadline for applications transmitted October 23. Federal Post Card Application rules for military and overseas voters differ in some respects.

In-person voting continues

Texas early in-person voting began October 19 and continues through October 30. Missing the mail-ballot application cutoff does not eliminate the option for an eligible voter to vote in person. Voters should contact their county election office to confirm locations, hours and identification requirements, and should avoid relying on unsolicited election messages for deadlines.

This is the deadline to request a mailed ballot, not the deadline to return an already-issued ballot. For official instructions, consult the Secretary of State election calendar.

Reporting: SNN Newsroom.