A record number of Texans are registered for the March 3 primary vote
A record number of Texans have signed up to cast their votes in the March 3 primary.
As of Tuesday, 16.2 million Texans — which includes 1.16 million Tarrant County residents — were registered to vote in Texas, according to the Texas Secretary of State’s office.
That’s up from the 14.2 million Texans, including just over 1 million Tarrant residents, who were registered to vote for the 2016 presidential primary election, state records show.
“Active and engaged citizens are essential to our democracy,” said Stephen Chang, a spokesman for the Secretary of State’s office. “These latest record-breaking numbers are yet another sign that Texans plan to make their voices heard in helping to shape the direction of the Lone Star State.”
Early voting began Tuesday and runs through Feb. 28.
Tarrant voters will weigh in on more than just the presidential race.
Also on the ballot are a number of local races stretching from Congress to the Texas Legislature to the courthouse.
To vote in Texas, a person must be a U.S. citizen, at least 17 years and 10 months old (and 18 by Election Day), mentally sound and not a convicted felon unless the sentence has been completed, including parole or probation.
Election information
▪ Bring a current photo ID to the polls. The seven state-approved photo IDs: Texas driver’s license, Texas election identification certificate, Texas personal identification card, Texas license to carry a handgun, U.S. military ID card with photo, U.S. citizenship certificate with photo and U.S. passport. Anyone who doesn’t have one of these IDs may fill out a “reasonable impediment declaration” to vote with a different ID such as a bank statement or a paycheck.
▪ Election officials ask that voters review sample ballots before heading to the polls. They are online at the Tarrant Elections website.
▪ Anyone who needs a ride to the polls can get one for free. Tarrant County officials agreed to spend as much as $20,000 to give voters rides on Trinity Metro’s fixed-route bus, ACCESS paratransit, Tarrant County Transportation Services (TCTS), Northeast Transportation Services (NETS), Arlington’s Via and Handitran.
▪ For any election information, call the Tarrant County Elections Center at 817-831-8683.
This story was originally published February 18, 2020 at 4:55 PM.
