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Understanding Your Vote: Casting a Limited Ballot After a Texas County Move
Key Takeaways
- •Texas law permits 'limited ballots' for registered voters who move to a new county but haven't re-registered there.
- •Limited ballots allow voting only in statewide and overlapping district races, not all local contests.
- •This ballot type is exclusively available during early voting, not on Election Day.
- •Voters must apply in person or by mail, providing valid ID and both addresses.
Moving to a new Texas county can feel like a fresh start, but what about your right to vote if you haven't re-registered yet? Good news: you're still covered, at least in part. If you’re a registered voter in Texas and just moved counties, you might qualify to cast what's called a 'limited ballot.' It's a key part of ensuring voting access even with a recent address change.
This option lets you vote early for statewide races and any district offices that overlap both your old and new counties. Think about those big elections that affect everyone in Texas, or legislative districts that span county lines. This particular rule exists to protect your constitutional right to participate, even when administrative hurdles pop up.
There are some important caveats, though. You can only use a limited ballot during early voting; it’s not an option on Election Day itself. You also have to cast it in person at the main early voting site or send it by mail. To do this, you’ll need to show a valid ID, provide both your old and new addresses, and fill out a quick application right there at the polling place. It’s a straightforward process designed to prevent voter disenfranchisement.
Understanding these rules is important, especially with early voting for the March 3 primary elections wrapping up soon. It’s all about making sure your voice is heard, no matter where you just unpacked your boxes in Texas.
Original source: Politics – Houston Public Media.
