Early voting for the highly anticipated Nov. 5 presidential election kicks off on Monday, giving Bexar County residents who are registered to vote two weeks to cast their ballots at any of the county’s 51 early polling locations.
Over the last four years, Bexar County has seen a remarkable increase in voter registrations, rising 9.7% compared to previous presidential election cycles.
Over 1.2 million residents are currently registered to vote in Bexar County, with an additional 104,574 registrations processed since the 2020 election, said Bexar County’s longtime Elections Administrator Jacquelyn “Jacque” Callanen, who is overseeing her last election before retiring.
“You can see the growth in Bexar County,” said Callanen on Thursday at a press conference. “We’ve been talking about it, you all been telling everyone — the growth is just amazing.”
Still, only a fraction of those who are eligible to cast their votes have registered for this election.
With the Oct. 7 voter registration deadline now passed, voters are gearing up for an election that holds the potential to reshape local, state and federal leadership.
The early voting period will close on Friday, Nov. 1. Here’s everything you need to know before heading to the ballot box.
What’s on the ballot?
Aside from choosing between promoting Vice President Kamala Harris to the presidency or reinstating former President Donald Trump, Texas has a high-stakes U.S. Senate showdown between incumbent Republican Ted Cruz and Democratic Congressman Colin Allred.
All members of Congress are also up for reelection, potentially shifting control of the U.S. House, as well as state legislative positions and judicial seats.
At the local level, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar, a Democrat, is facing off against Republican Nathan Buchanan, two Bexar County Commissioners are up for reelection.
Voters in San Antonio, Converse and Schertz will have local propositions on the ballot.
The Bexar County Elections Department has made resources available online, including a personalized sample ballot, to help voters prepare before heading to the polls.
Where can I vote?
The Bexar County Elections Department will operate 51 early voting centers across San Antonio and Bexar County starting on Monday. And voters can cast their ballots at any of these locations. Find one that’s convenient for you on this map.
Most locations are open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. this week, and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 28 through Nov. 1. Hours are shorter on the weekends. Be sure to check the hours of operation here before you drive out.
Planning to vote on Election Day? On Nov. 5, Bexar County voters will have more than 300 polling locations to choose from, open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
How can I determine if I’m registered to vote?
In Texas, you must be registered to vote. The deadline to register was Oct. 7, so make sure to check your registration status online prior to hitting the polls.
All you need is: your Voter Unique Identifier (VUID) or your Texas Driver’s License number, your name, county and date of birth.
If you’ve moved but you haven’t updated your address, you should still be able to vote as long as you have a valid form of identification — you just will have a ballot that is based on your old address.
How do I know if I’m eligible to vote?
You are eligible to vote if you registered by the Oct. 7 deadline and are:
- A U.S. citizen
- A resident of the county where you submit your voter registration application
- At least 18 years old on Election Day
- Not a convicted felon (you may still be eligible to vote if you have completed your sentence, probation and parole)
- Not been declared by a court exercising probate jurisdiction to be either totally mentally incapacitated or partially mentally incapacitated without the right to vote.
Do I need to bring my voter registration card with me?
No, but it could make the check-in process faster. If you don’t have it, bring a driver’s license or other form of positive identification. Here are the accepted forms of ID:
- Texas driver license issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
- Texas election identification certificate issued by DPS
- Texas personal ID card issued by DPS
- Texas handgun license issued by DPS
- U.S. military ID card with photograph
- U.S. citizenship certificate with photograph
- U.S. passport (book or card)
If you don’t have and can’t reasonably obtain one of the seven approved forms of photo ID, you can fill out a Reasonable Impediment Declaration at the voting location and present an alternative form of ID, such as a utility bill, bank statement, government check or a voter registration certificate.
What can and can’t go into the ballot box with me?
Leave behind any candidate-specific T-shirts, hats or buttons — those aren’t allowed within 100 feet of the polling sites. Electronics such as phones, tablets and smartwatches must be turned off or left in your vehicle while casting your ballot. Make sure that if you want to refer to notes they are written on paper.
You may take a paper ballot with you in the box. Remember, because Congressional districts are drawn pretty wonky in Texas, your ballot may look different than your friend’s who lives across town, so make sure to take a look at your sample ballot. The best way to do that is by going to the Bexar County Elections page and using the tool that generates your personalized ballot based on your home address. Make sure you print out a copy of it to take with you into the ballot box though, or write it down on a piece of paper.
Our Voter Guide, compiled by San Antonio Report staff, has information about all of the candidates and charter amendments to help you prepare.
How can I vote by mail?
Eligible residents must apply to and be approved by the county to vote by mail. The application is available to download as a fillable form here.
Alternatively, it can be downloaded, completed by hand, and mailed to:
Early Voting Clerk
1103 S. Frio, Suite 200
San Antonio, Texas 78207-6328
The application must be in the Elections office no later than 11 days prior to the election for which the ballot is being requested. The last day for the Elections office to accept an application for a ballot by mail is Friday, Oct. 25.
“This isn’t like voter registration, where it just has to be postmarked by that date and time — it has to physically be in this building by then,” Callanen said.
Not everyone in Texas is eligible to vote by mail. If you fall into one of these five categories, you are able to request an application to vote by mail from the Bexar County Election office:
- You are 65 years of age or older on Election Day.
- You are sick or disabled (as defined in here).
- You expect to give birth within three weeks before or after Election Day.
- You are out of your county on Election Day and during early voting hours.
- You are confined in jail or Involuntary Civil Commitment, but eligible to vote.
The voter will receive a paper ballot through the U.S. Postal office as long as they qualify for the proceeding election. Any ballots returned must be postmarked no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day. If you are mailing your ballot from outside the United States, your ballot must be delivered to the Elections Department no later than five days after Election Day.
Those who are eligible to vote by mail will need to provide:
- Their Driver’s License Number; and/or
- The last four digits of their Social Security Number.
Voters must write their Driver’s License Number and/or the last four of their Social Security number in two places:
- On the Application to Vote by Mail; and
- On the completed Ballot Envelope.
Those who vote by mail should be sure not to forget to sign the application before sending it off. Make sure to place the ballot in the white secrecy envelope. You must seal the envelope first and then sign over the flap — don’t sign and then fold the flap over the signature. The signature must show completely.
If any information is missing or invalid, the Elections office will proactively reach out to you to address any inconsistencies. Failed attempts to contact you regarding your missing or unmatched Driver’s License or Social Security Number on the application or ballot may result in a rejection.