Do I need a photo ID in order to vote?
A voter must show one of the following forms of acceptable photo identification at the polling location before the voter may be accepted for voting, unless the voter does not possess and cannot reasonably obtain one of these forms of acceptable photo identification or the voter qualifies for one of the other exemptions identified below:
- Texas Driver License issued by the Department of Public Safety (“DPS”);
- Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS;
- Texas Personal Identification Card issued by DPS;
- Texas Handgun License issued by DPS;
- United States Military Identification Card containing the person’s photograph;
- United States Citizenship Certificate containing the person’s photograph; or
- United States Passport (book or card).
With the exception of the U.S. citizenship certificate, the identification must be current or, for voters aged 18-69, have expired no more than 4 years before being presented for voter qualification at the polling place. A person 70 years of age or older may use a form of identification listed above that has expired for any length of time if the identification is otherwise valid.
If a voter does not possess one of the forms of acceptable photo identification listed above, and the voter cannot reasonably obtain such identification, the voter may execute a Reasonable Impediment Declaration and present a copy or original of one of the following supporting documents:
- copy or original of a government document that shows the voter’s name and an address, including the voter’s voter registration certificate;
- copy of or original current utility bill;
- copy of or original bank statement;
- copy of or original government check;
- copy of or original paycheck; or
- copy of or original of (a) a certified domestic (from a U.S. state or territory) birth certificate or (b) a document confirming birth admissible in a court of law which establishes the voter’s identity (which may include a foreign birth document).
The address on an acceptable photo identification or a supporting document, if applicable, does not have to match the voter’s address on the list of registered voters.
Exemptions: Voters with a disability may apply with the county voter registrar for a permanent exemption to presenting acceptable photo identification or following the Reasonable Impediment Declaration procedure at the polls. Voters with a religious objection to being photographed or voters who do not present an acceptable form of photo identification or follow the Reasonable Impediment Declaration procedure at the polls because of certain natural disasters may apply for a temporary exemption to presenting acceptable photo identification or following the Reasonable Impediment Declaration procedure at the polls. Please contact your voter registrar for more details.
Provisional Voting: If (a) a voter does not possess one of the seven (7) acceptable forms of photo identification (which, for voters aged 18-69, is not expired for more than four years, or, for voters aged 70 and older, may be expired for any length of time but is otherwise valid) and the voter can reasonably obtain one of these forms of identification or (b) if a voter possesses, but did not bring to the polling place, one of the seven forms of acceptable photo identification (which, for voters aged 18-69, is not expired for more than four years, or, for voters aged 70 and older, may be expired for any length of time but is otherwise valid) or (c) if the voter does not possess one of the seven forms of acceptable photo identification (which, for voters aged 18-69, is not expired for more than four years, or, for voters aged 70 and older, may be expired for any length of time but is otherwise valid), could not otherwise reasonably obtain one, but did not bring a supporting form of identification to the polling place; and the voter did not present a voter registration certificate with a permanent disability exemption indicated on their voter registration certificate, the voter may cast a provisional ballot at the polls. The voter will have six (6) calendar days after election day to (1) present an acceptable form of photo identification to the county voter registrar, or, (2) if the voter does not possess and cannot reasonably obtain one of the acceptable forms of photo identification, present one of the supporting forms of ID to the county voter registrar and execute a Reasonable Impediment Declaration, or, (3) if applicable, qualify for one of the exemptions referenced above.
Do I need my voting certificate to vote at the polling place or at Early Voting?
It is helpful to the process and can be used as a supporting form of ID.
Last updated 2022. Source: www.collincountytx.gov/elections/Pages/faq.aspx
