Voter ID and absentee ballots: is voting getting harder in the South?
Since the 2020 election, multiple states have tightened voting regulations that are expected to impact the outcome of key elections in swing states.
Texans face months-long waits — and often a drive to another city — to get an appointment for a state ID or driver’s license from the Department of Public Safety. After state Rep. Erin Zwiener recently told the Statesman, “I couldn’t find anything closer than Seguin before January,” the floodgates opened on social media with other Central Texans sharing stories of driving as far as Cuero or Corpus Christi to get their IDs.
This problem has even greater urgency in an election year: Texas requires voters to show a government-issued photo ID at the polls. But there is a way for people to vote if they can’t get a photo ID in time. Here’s what you need to know.
What forms of ID are accepted for voting in Texas?
Registered voters can use any of the following forms of ID at the polls:
Texas driver’s license issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPSState ID card issued by DPSTexas Handgun License issued by DPSU.S. Military Identification Card containing the person’s photographU.S. Citizenship Certificate containing the person’s photographU.S. passport (book or card)Can I register to vote if I don’t have an ID?
Yes! On the voter registration form, you have the option to put your driver’s license/state ID number OR the last four digits of your Social Security number. You can choose the latter option.
What if my ID is expired?
You can still vote with any of the IDs listed above for up to four years after the expiration date, if you are 69 or younger. Voters over 70 can vote with an expired ID, regardless of how long it has been expired.
What if my ID shows an old address?
You can still vote with a Texas ID showing a previous address. The purpose of showing ID at the polls is to establish your identity, not prove your residency.
OK, but what if I can’t get a Texas ID before the election?
You can still vote! You just have to take the extra step of bringing another piece of documentation and filling out a form at the polling place. Ask for the “Reasonable Impediment Declaration” form when you check in at the voting site.
On the form — see what it looks like here — you will check off the box that explains why you do not have a photo ID. Options include lack of transportation, ID was lost or stolen, or work or family responsibilities. If the only available ID appointments are far from where you live, transportation issues or your work or family responsibilities could affect your ability to get to a far-away DPS office.
No ID? No problem: How to vote in the 2024 election without a photo ID in Texas
What documentation do you need with a ‘reasonable impediment’ form?
You must bring a “supporting form of ID.” The best option: Bring your voter registration certificate, a postcard mailed to you from your local voter registrar’s office. It looks like this:
Your voter registration certificate will be accepted with the “reasonable impediment” form because it is a government document with your name and address on it. Or you can bring any one of the following:
Your birth certificateA recent utility bill or bank statement with your name on itA government check or a paycheck, orAnother government document with your name and address on itWhat if I can’t find my voter registration certificate?
Don’t worry: You can get a new one mailed to you! Just contact your local voter registrar’s office and ask for a replacement voter registration certificate.
In Travis County, call the Tax Collector and Voter Registrar’s Office at 512-854-9473; email tax_voters@traviscountytx.gov; or visit the main tax office at 2433 Ridgepoint Drive to receive a replacement certificate in person.In Williamson County, call 512-943-1630 or email VoterRegistration@wilco.org.In Hays County, call 512-393-7310 or email elections@co.hays.tx.us.In Bastrop County, call 512-581-7160 or email elections@co.bastrop.tx.us.Look up the contact information here for other county elections office in Texas.What kind of ballot do I get after filling out the ‘reasonable impediment’ form?
You will vote on a regular ballot, not a provisional ballot. Once you cast your regular ballot, it will count. You will not need to take any further steps.
What if I have a photo ID but I forget to bring it to the polls?
You will cast a provisional ballot. In order for that ballot to be counted, you must return to your county elections office within six days and present your photo ID.
What if I run into difficulty at the polls?
Call or text 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683), a hotline administered by nonpartisan voting advocates, to speak with a trained volunteer who can explain the law and your options.
Apart from voting, I still need a Texas ID. How do I get one?
You need to schedule an appointment with the Department of Public Safety at public.txdpsscheduler.com. But it’s not unusual for the next available appointment to be months and miles away. Some strategies that can help:
Check the public.txdpsscheduler.com website around 7:30 a.m. any weekday and keep refreshing, as appointments that other people have canceled for that day are reposted for others to take.Look for appointments in other towns. They may have openings sooner if you’re able to make the drive.Try a third-party scheduling app, such as DriveIt, developed by Frisco teen Sowmya Nandyala, which may be able to help you find new appointments sooner.If all else fails, show up to the DPS office in person, but come early. People start lining up before 5 a.m. for the few same-day appointments that are handed out on a first-come, first-served basis. Additionally, a limited number of people will be offered the chance to wait at the office on a standby list that will be served by the end of that day.What should I know about renewing my driver’s license or Texas ID?
Most Texans are eligible to renew their license up to two years before it expires. And in many cases, licenses can be renewed online without needing an appointment. Check your eligibility for online renewal here.
DPS notifies Texans by mail when their license or ID is set to expire in six months. If you aren’t eligible for online renewal, start looking for a DPS appointment as soon as you get that notification.
And if you end up with an extra appointment you don’t need or can’t use…
Please go back into the public.txdpsscheduler.com website and cancel any appointment you don’t need! In June 2024, 27% of the scheduled appointments at DPS offices — 173,417 appointments statewide — ended up being no-shows. Making those appointments available to other customers would make a big difference.
Why is it so hard to get a Texas driver’s license appointment?
The Texas Department of Public Safety launched an online scheduling system in May 2020 so that people would no longer need to wait for hours at the office for their turn to get a license or ID card. But the decrease in services during the COVID-19 pandemic created a backlog of people needing to obtain or renew their IDs. And since then, the influx of new residents has added to the demand for services while DPS struggles to hire the staffers it needs.
“In the current job climate, we face challenges finding qualified applicants to fill open positions at (driver’s license) offices around the state,” DPS press secretary Sheridan Nolen told the Statesman. “Staffing is greatly reducing the number of appointments offices can offer.”
Some Central Texas lawmakers are looking at potential remedies. Zwiener, a Democrat from Hays County, has suggested boosting pay for DPS staffers in Central Texas, where the cost of living is higher and the staffing shortage is greater than many other parts of the state.
State Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, said on social media that people facing such long waits to get IDs “is unacceptable and needs to be addressed before next session. Looking into whether some funds/staffing can be shifted to provide necessary services immediately.”
Questions or comments? Contact Metro columnist Bridget Grumet at bgrumet@statesman.com.
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Publish date : 2024-08-26 01:02:00
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