LibGuides: Voting and Elections: Absentee Voting

Deadline to submit ballot by mail application in Texas for the 2024 fall election: October 25, 2024. Note that your application must be RECEIVED in the office by this date, so planning to send it 2-3 weeks prior to this deadline is probably safe. Earlier is better!

The deadline for the voting clerk to receive completed ballots mailed within the United States from non-military and military voters who submitted an Application for Ballot by Mail is 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, if the carrier envelope has a postmark showing it was in the mail by 7:00 p.m. November 5, 2024.

Voting absentee in Texas
If you are registered in another Texas county but attend UT Austin, you are eligible to vote absentee by mail in your home county (if you will be out of the county you vote in for election day and the early voting period, read the rules at this link). Give yourself plenty of time to get your ballot, and remember, you can register at your Austin address if you want to vote in person. You may only register and vote in one place.

Things to consider when deciding where to vote:

If you have financial aid that requires Texas residency, consider that and talk to the financial aid office before registering to vote in another state you consider home.
Where do you want to weigh in on local issues, here in Travis County or in your home state or county?
Absentee voting can be more complex and might take more time, so consider the extra steps required to vote absentee.

Voting absentee in another state
If you are registered to vote in another state but attend UT Austin, you are usually allowed to vote absentee in your home state. Read the rules for your state. This link from vote.org can help you request an absentee ballot. You may only register and vote in one place.