Can you take your child to the voting booth on Election Day? What Texas law says
Early voting for the March 3 primary starts Tuesday, Feb. 17 and goes until Friday, Feb. 27, but it’s always good to keep up with what you can and can’t do at the voting booth.
On that note: What happens if you are hesitant to go vote because of child care? Are you afraid that you might be turned away if your kid is with you?
Here’s what to know.
Can I bring my kid with me to the voting booth in Texas?
In Texas, it is perfectly acceptable to bring a child to the polls while voting.
In fact, Girl Scouts of America encourages parents to find ways to involve their child in voting because it teaches them that their thoughts and opinions matter.
“Plus, the candidates who are voted into office will be shaping your [child’s] future—from [their] educational options today to [their] financial realities as [they] become adults,” the organization says.
What Texas laws say about bringing your kid to the voting booth
The Texas Election Code says: “A child under 18 years of age may accompany the child’s parent to a voting station.”
Otherwise, only one person at a time is allowed to be at a polling station. Prepare your child to wait patiently .
What you are not allowed to bring while voting
According to VoteTexas.gov, “persons are not allowed to use wireless communications devices within 100 feet of voting stations.” Meaning, your child cannot be preoccupied by a cellphone or an iPad.
Here’s a full list of devices that shouldn’t be used in a polling station:
- Cell phones
- Cameras
- Tablet computers
- Laptop computers
- Sound recorders
- Any other device that may communicate wirelessly, or be used to record sound or images.
Who else is allowed at polls in Texas?
In Texas, students who are 16 years or older are allowed to volunteer at voting sites, according to the Texas Secretary of State.
Students enrolled in public, private or home school can get permission from their principal (or parent for homeschooled students) to serve as an election clerk.
“This program is designed to provide students with a greater awareness of the electoral process and the rights and responsibilities of voters,” according to the Texas Secretary of State. “The students will assist their local election officials by filling positions at polling places during the Early Voting period or on Election Day and working under the direction of the polling place presiding judge.”
This story was inspired by earlier reporting from the Star-Telegram’s Ella Gonzales.
This story was originally published February 13, 2026 at 4:00 PM with the headline "Can you take your child to the voting booth on Election Day? What Texas law says."