The Lone Star State re- ported 17,948,242 million registered voters ahead of the March 5 primaries, ac cording to the Texas Secre- tary of State Office.
“Nearly 18 million Texans are registered to vote, and my office and election officials across the state are working to make sure all Texas voters are ready to cast a ballot," said Secretary of State Jane Nelson said, in a media release.
Early voting for the primary elections begins Tuesday, Feb. 20 (today), and runs through March 1.
“Early voting is a convenient way to cast your ballot and avoid the rush of Election Day," Nelson added. “Now is a good time to plan when you will vote and decide what form of photo ID you will bring to the polls.”
During early voting, Texans may cast a ballot at any polling location in their county of registration.
When casting a ballot in person, voters are required to show one of the following approved forms of photo ID:
• Texas Driver License
Texas Personal Identifi -
cation Card
• Passport
• Texas Handgun License
Military Identification Card
Citizenship Certificate Texas Election Identifi -
cation Card
Voters who do not possess and cannot reasonably obtain one of the seven approved forms of photo ID can fill out a Reasonable Impediment Declaration at the polls and present an al- ternative form of identifi cation, such as a utility bill, bank statement, government check, or a voter registration certificate.
During the primary elections, voters will need to indicate in which party prima- ry they want to vote. Voters who signed a petition for a candidate from the Libertarian or Green Parties are not eligible to vote in the primary.
For more information on ID requirements and voting deadlines, please visit VoteTexas.gov for of - ficial information or call 1-800-252-VOTE.