Texas primary election 2026: When does early voting start?

The 2026 primary elections will be held on March 3. (Jay Janner/The Austin American-Statesman via Getty Images)

The Texas primary election is approaching, and early voting begins soon.

Voters will help decide which candidates advance to the November general election in statewide, congressional and local races. Here’s what to know about key dates, registration and how to cast your ballot.

Here's what you need to know about early voting deadlines and how to check voter registration.

When is the deadline to register to vote in Texas?

Feb. 2 was the last day to register to vote or submit an address change for the primary election.

Early voting for the primary election begins Feb. 17.

When does early voting end?

Feb. 27. is the last day you can vote early.

Where can I vote early in Texas?

Registered voters can vote early at any polling place in their county.

According to VoteTexas.gov, early voting locations can be found on their website in the "My Voter Portal" section. Once there, you can enter your name, county, date of birth and zip code to find your registration information and the nearest polling location. You can also contact the early voting clerk for state and county elections for early voting locations near you.

When is primary election day in Texas?

The 2026 primary elections will be held on March 3.

What is a runoff election?

If no candidate receives a majority of the vote in the primary, a runoff election between the top two vote-getters will be held on May 26.

Texas has open primaries, meaning voters can choose which party’s primary to participate in every two years.

How to check voter registration in Texas

Voter rolls are updated regularly, and some voters may be removed if their status changes, they have not voted in two general elections, or they have not responded to address verification notices.

Several organizations, including Rock the Vote, offer tools to check registration status.

You can verify your voter registration status on the Texas Secretary of State’s website, where you can view your status, address, county, voter ID number and party affiliation. A status of “active” means you are eligible to vote.

Am I eligible to vote by mail in Texas?

You may qualify to vote by mail if you:

• Will be absent from your county of residence on Election Day and during early voting
• Are sick or have a disability that prevents voting in person without assistance
• Are 65 or older
• Are confined in jail serving a misdemeanor sentence or confined without bail pending trial
• Are expecting to give birth within three weeks before or after Election Day
• Are civilly committed under Chapter 841 of the Texas Health and Safety Code

What if I moved after the voter registration deadline?

According to VoteTexas.gov, voters who move must submit updated address information in writing to their voter registrar or complete the change online.