The March 2026 primary election is a big deal for Houston and Texas residents. It's where we pick candidates for the November midterm elections. This primary shapes future policies impacting your life, from local services to state laws. Understanding how to vote, and the laws behind it, is key to protecting your fundamental right to participate. What happens here sets the stage for who governs us and what legal frameworks guide our state. March 3, 2026, is Election Day for the primary. But remember, early voting kicks off on February 17 and runs through February 27. These dates are legally set, offering a window for you to participate. This staggered approach aims to make voting more accessible, though specific rules and hours can differ slightly from county to county, which is something you'll want to double-check for your area. It’s all about making sure you have every chance to make your voice heard within the bounds of election law. Let's look at the major races on the ballot. These positions shape our laws and public services. On the statewide stage, you've got one of Texas's two U.S. Senate seats up for grabs. The incumbent, Senator John Cornyn, is facing a challenge in the Republican primary from big names like Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Representative Wesley Hunt. Over on the Democratic side, U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett and state Representative James Talarico are leading the pack. The outcome here is significant. It determines who helps make federal laws, influences national policy on everything from healthcare to economic stability, and directly affects how Texas is represented in Washington. But it doesn't stop there. We’ll also see primaries for governor, attorney general, lieutenant governor, comptroller, land commissioner, railroad commissioner, and agriculture commissioner. Don't forget the state Supreme Court candidates, either. Each of these offices carries immense legal and public policy weight. Take the Attorney General's office. It defends state laws, challenges federal policies, and shapes legal interpretations affecting businesses and your constitutional rights. The Governor sets the state agenda. The Land Commissioner manages public lands, impacting resources and school funding. These races build Texas's legal and policy framework. Closer to home, folks in Harris, Fort Bend, Galveston, and Montgomery counties will be choosing candidates for their top elected roles. The Harris County Judge position, for example, is a big deal, particularly since current Judge Lina Hidalgo announced she won’t seek re-election. A new leader will shape the county's administration, budget, and crisis response. Former Houston Mayor Annise Parker, Letitia Plummer, and Matt Salazar are seeking the Democratic nomination. Republicans include Houston firefighters’ union leader Marty Lancton, Orlando Sanchez, Aliza Dutt, Oscar Gonzales, Warren A. Howell, and George Harry Zoes. These local roles dictate property taxes, infrastructure, emergency services, and county-level justice. They wield significant administrative power over judicial appointments and bond policy. We’re also seeing congressional seats on the ballot, especially in our recently redrawn districts. Redistricting itself is a significant legal and political battleground. It impacts legislative majorities and often faces legal challenges, like those concerning racial gerrymandering under the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause. In Houston, the 18th Congressional District has newly sworn-in U.S. Representative Christian Menefee defending his seat in the Democratic primary. He's up against longtime U.S. Representative Al Green, who actually switched from the 9th Congressional District after the maps were redrawn. Speaking of the 9th District, it now leans Republican, with state Representative Briscoe Cain and former Harris County judge candidate Alex Mealer emerging as top GOP contenders. These races affect who represents your interests in federal lawmaking and spending. Shifting district lines highlight ongoing legal battles over political power. **Getting Ready to Vote: Your Legal Checklist** Alright, now let’s get down to the brass tacks of actually voting. Your ability to vote is a fundamental right, with legal requirements. Here’s what you need to keep in mind: **Voter Registration: The First Hurdle** First things first: are you registered? You can’t vote if you’re not. The legal deadline to register for the March primary was February 2. If you missed that, you won't be able to vote in this particular primary, but you can get ready for the next election. This state-imposed deadline ensures voter roll integrity and allows officials time to process applications, reflecting the state's authority to regulate elections. You can – and should – verify your registration status online. The Texas Secretary of State’s Office has a statewide search tool, and Harris County voters can check theirs directly through the Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector and Voter Registrar’s website. This simple check helps prevent issues at the polls, ensuring your name is on the list where it should be. **Early Voting: Take Advantage of the Window** Early voting in Texas is a fantastic way to avoid Election Day crowds and make sure your ballot is cast. It starts on February 17 and wraps up on February 27. During this period, many counties, including Harris County, use what’s called “countywide voting.” This means you can cast your ballot at *any* polling location within that county, no matter where you live. This countywide policy significantly boosts voter access, making voting more convenient. However, it's not universal; some counties require voting in your home precinct. These policy differences show county autonomy within state law, and can expand or limit your ballot access. Always check with your local voter registrar or elections office for specific locations and hours, as they can vary. For Harris County, all 60 early voting locations will operate: * Feb. 17-21: 7 a.m.-7 p.m. * Feb. 22: noon-7 p.m. * Feb. 23-27: 7 a.m.-7 p.m. **Election Day: The Grand Finale** On Tuesday, March 3, polls across Texas will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. And here’s a key legal point: as long as you are *in line* at a polling location by 7 p.m., you are legally allowed to cast your ballot. They can't turn you away. Just like early voting, Harris County will let you vote at any of its 200-plus polling locations on Election Day, expanding access. Other counties might stick to precinct-specific voting. Again, confirm your local rules. These seemingly small procedural differences can have a real impact on how many people ultimately participate. **What to Bring (and What to Leave at Home): Understanding the Rules** This area sparks significant legal debates. Texas laws on ID and polling place conduct aim for election integrity, but often raise questions about voter access and constitutional rights. **Photo Identification: Your Gateway to the Ballot** Texas has strict photo ID requirements, laws that have been the subject of considerable legal challenge, even reaching the Supreme Court. While you *can* technically cast a provisional ballot without ID, doing so requires extra steps afterward to make sure your vote counts. To avoid that extra legwork and ensure your vote is counted immediately, you should bring one of these approved forms of photo ID: * A Texas Driver's License or ID card from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) * A Texas Handgun License issued by DPS * A U.S. citizenship certificate that includes your photo * A Texas Election Identification Certificate (EIC) from DPS * A U.S. passport (either the book or card version) * A U.S. military ID with your photo IDs must be current, or for ages 18-69, expired no more than four years. For 70+, there’s no expiration limit. The state offers free Election Identification Certificates (EICs) to address undue burden concerns. This framework balances election security with your constitutional right to vote, a balance often litigated. **The 'Reasonable Impediment' Option: A Legal Workaround** What if you don't have one of those specific photo IDs? Texas law offers a 'Reasonable Impediment Declaration.' This is a specific legal form you can fill out, swearing that you have a 'reasonable impediment' to getting one of the accepted photo IDs. It's a key part of the current voter ID law, established after past versions faced legal challenges alleging they disenfranchised voters. If you sign this declaration, you can then show one of the following supporting identification documents: * A government document with your name and address, like your voter registration certificate * A current utility bill * A bank statement * A government check * A paycheck * A certified domestic birth certificate or other document proving birth that a court would accept to establish identity (even a birth document from another country is acceptable). This declaration, with supporting documents, offers an avenue for those without photo ID, addressing judicial concerns about undue burden. It's an extra step, and can be confusing. **Provisional Voting: When All Else Fails** If you can’t provide an approved photo ID *or* one of the supporting documents with a Reasonable Impediment Declaration, you still have the right to cast a provisional ballot. However, this means you'll have to sign a provisional affidavit and then 'cure' your ballot. What does 'curing' mean? It means you have six days after the election to bring an approved form of photo ID to your local voter registrar or elections office to prove your identity. If you don't, your provisional ballot won't be counted. This system protects voting rights while upholding security. It’s a bureaucratic step, but prevents disenfranchisement. **Exemptions: Recognizing Special Circumstances** Texas law also recognizes specific exemptions. Voters with a permanent disability can apply for a permanent exemption from the photo ID requirements with their county voter registrar. This is an important accommodation under disability rights laws, ensuring that a physical barrier doesn't become a barrier to voting. Similarly, temporary exemptions exist for those with a religious objection to being photographed or for individuals affected by certain natural disasters that prevent them from obtaining ID. These exemptions demonstrate the state's attempt to balance its ID requirements with broader constitutional protections and civil liberties. **What You Can and Cannot Bring Inside the Polling Place** You *can* bring sample ballots and handwritten notes into the polling booth. That's your right to prepare. But there are strict prohibitions rooted in election integrity and privacy laws. No phones, tablets, laptops, cameras, or any device that can communicate wirelessly or record sound or images can be used inside the polling location or within 100 feet of it. You’ll usually see markers indicating this 100-foot zone. This prevents electronic electioneering, voter intimidation, or unauthorized recording that could compromise ballot secrecy or election integrity. It balances free expression with protecting the vote's sanctity. Within that 100-foot space, nobody is allowed to post, use, or hand out any signs or literature for candidates, political parties, or ballot measures in *that current election*. This is about preventing last-minute campaigning or undue influence right at the point of voting. **Voter Assistance: Your Right to Help** If you need help casting your ballot, whether it’s for translation or due to a physical challenge, you’re legally allowed to bring one other person with you. But there’s a catch: that person cannot be your employer, an agent of your employer, or an officer or agent of your union. This rule safeguards against voter coercion or undue influence. Notify the election judge; your helper takes an oath, swearing they won't force or persuade your vote. This formality protects your autonomy. **What to Wear: Expressing Yourself (with Limits)** Texas law also has rules about what you can wear. This balances your First Amendment right to free speech with the state’s neutral voting environment interest. The law says you cannot wear clothing, hats, buttons, or other apparel that relates to a candidate, political party, or specific measure *on the ballot in the current election*. So, if it's relevant to March 3rd's primary races, leave it at home. However, items related to candidates, parties, or issues *not* on the current ballot *are* allowed. This distinction limits electioneering at polls, but allows political expression unrelated to immediate contests. **Voting by Mail: A Closer Look at Legal Restrictions** Voting by mail is an option for certain Texans who meet specific legal requirements. It's not a universal right, limited by state law to specific circumstances. You can apply to receive and cast your ballot by mail if you are: * Age 65 or older by Election Day * Sick or disabled (this definition has been subject to legal interpretation) * Going to be out of your home county during both early voting and on Election Day * Expected to give birth within three weeks before or after Election Day * Jailed, but still otherwise eligible to vote The deadline to request a mail ballot for this March primary is February 20. But here’s where Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), passed in 2021, significantly changed mail voting, becoming a focal point of legal challenges. It requires mail-ballot applications and ballots to include a Texas driver's license, state ID, EIC, or last four SSN. Crucially, this ID number *must match* your voter registration. Mismatches or incomplete information can lead to rejected ballots. While aiming for security, SB 1 has increased ballot rejections, sparking litigation over voter disenfranchisement, especially for elderly and disabled voters. Harris County recommends including *all* applicable ID numbers to avoid issues. For those in Harris County, applications sent via USPS go to P.O. Box 1148, Houston, Texas, 77251-1148. For common or contract carriers, send them to the Harris County Clerk's Office Elections Department, 15600 Morales Rd., Houston, Texas 77032. You can also fax or email your application, but importantly, the original application *must* still be mailed and received by the voting clerk within four business days. This 'wet signature' is a legal safeguard for authenticity. Voters aged 65 or older or those with disabilities can apply for an *annual* application, meaning they'll get mail ballots for all elections in a calendar year, a policy designed to make voting easier for these groups. **Mail Ballot Issues and Lawsuits** The legal situation for disabled voters' mail-in options is still evolving. A lawsuit alleges Harris County lacks inclusive vote-by-mail, challenging ADA compliance and seeking to prevent unlawful barriers. If you get a mail ballot but then decide you want to vote in person, you can do that. Just bring your unused mail ballot to surrender at the polling place. If you don't have it, you can still vote provisionally, but again, that means extra steps to cure your ballot later. **Deadlines for Submitted Mail Ballots: Precision is Key** The legal deadlines for submitting your *completed* mail ballot are strict. If you're sending it through the mail, it must be postmarked by 7 p.m. on Election Day and received by 5 p.m. on the first mail delivery day *after* Election Day. If you're using a common or contract carrier (like FedEx or UPS) and it's not postmarked, it needs to be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day. There's a slight grace period if the carrier envelope shows a receipt mark before 7 p.m., allowing it to be received by 5 p.m. on the next mail delivery day. These precise deadlines ensure fair, timely vote tabulation. In Harris County, you can also drop off your mail ballot in person at 1019 Congress St., Houston, Texas 77002, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Election Day. But be warned: only the voter can drop it off, presenting photo ID or a Reasonable Impediment Declaration. This SB 1 rule, aimed at security, strictly limits ballot handlers and may impact those needing assistance. For voters outside the country, their ballots must be received by the voting clerk within five days after Election Day. For military voters, it's six days after Election Day. These extended deadlines accommodate unique logistical challenges for overseas and military personnel, protecting their voting rights. **Filling Out Your Mail Ballot: Get It Right** To avoid having your mail ballot rejected due to legal technicalities, follow these steps precisely: * Use black or blue ink. * Place the completed ballot in the small envelope and seal it. * Put that sealed envelope into the larger, pre-addressed carrier envelope. * Importantly, provide the correct ID number(s) (driver's license, EIC, or last four SSN) under the flap, ensuring a match. SB 1's rules are strict here. * Seal the carrier envelope and sign where indicated, using the *same signature* you used on your mail ballot application. Signature mismatch is another reason ballots get rejected. * Add the correct postage and send it off. The Harris County Clerk's Office wisely suggests including your contact info (phone or email). This way, election staff can reach out if there's a mistake or omission, giving you a chance to 'cure' the issue and ensure your vote counts. You can also track your mail ballot online at HarrisVotes.com, providing transparency and peace of mind. **Voting Machines and Accessibility: Ensuring Every Voice Can Be Heard** When you go to vote in person in Harris County, you’ll encounter a system that uses both electronic voting and paper ballots. This dual system is designed to provide a verifiable paper trail while offering modern electronic ease. Here’s how it works: you'll get two sheets of paper and an access code. You insert the first sheet into a machine, make your choices electronically, and then print them to review. You then repeat this with the second sheet. If you spot a mistake, tell an election worker immediately; you usually get up to two chances to correct it. Once you’re happy, you insert the printed sheets into a scanning machine. An American flag will appear on the screen, confirming your vote has been cast. This hybrid system aims for accuracy and security, addressing concerns about purely electronic systems. **Accessibility for Voters with Disabilities: A Legal Mandate** Federal law, like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), mandates resources for voters with disabilities, protecting their right to vote. It's a legal requirement, not just a courtesy. Here are some key provisions: * **Curbside Voting:** If you can't physically enter a polling place, you can ask an election officer to bring a ballot to your parked vehicle at a designated curbside location. This is an important accommodation for mobility impairments. After you mark your ballot, you can hand it back to the officer or, if you prefer, to a companion who will submit it for you. This ensures that physical access barriers don't translate into disenfranchisement. * **Voting Order Priority:** Voters with mobility limitations *can* ask an election official for voting order priority, meaning they might not have to stand in line. However, whether this priority is granted is often left to the discretion of the presiding election judge. This discretion can lead to inconsistent application, which some argue falls short of disability access laws. * **Multilingual Ballots:** Harris County provides ballots in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Vietnamese. This complies with federal Voting Rights Act requirements, preventing language barriers from hindering democratic participation. * **Machine Enhancements:** Voting machines in Harris County offer features like increased font size or contrast on the screen for visually impaired voters. There are also wider accessibility booths to accommodate mobility devices or chairs. Importantly, these machines can hook up to specialized components like headphones for audio narration or sip-and-puff devices, allowing voters with severe disabilities to operate them independently. These features directly respond to legal mandates for accessible voting technology. These accommodations are vital for upholding the constitutional right to vote for all citizens, regardless of their physical abilities. The recent lawsuit in Harris County for disabled voters' mail-in access shows that while laws exist, their implementation faces legal scrutiny and advocacy. **Special Circumstances: Life Happens** Sometimes, unexpected events can affect your ability to vote. Texas law provides for late ballots under specific, legally defined special circumstances. You can apply for a late ballot if: * You become sick or disabled between the last day of early voting (Feb. 27) and 5 p.m. on Election Day. The sickness or disability *must* originate on or after the 12th day before Election Day. This provision is a legal safety net for unforeseen health crises. * A death in your immediate family occurs on or after the fifth day before Election Day, causing you to be absent from your home county on Election Day. This acknowledges the profound impact of personal tragedy. These are exceptions to the general deadlines, reflecting a legislative understanding that life can throw curveballs, and your right to vote shouldn't be unjustly penalized by them. **Sample Ballots: Your Pre-Game Plan** Sample ballots are your legal right to review candidates and propositions, helping you make informed decisions. Find them online through your county's elections office. This tool ensures you have the information to participate effectively. Knowing these voting details and laws empowers you as a citizen. Your primary vote shapes Texas's leadership and policies for years. Be ready.