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Early voting in Texas begins today. Here’s what you need to know

Election Day is less than two weeks away, and while some voters still don’t know who they’ll vote for in local, state and national elections, they have another decision to make: vote early or vote Tuesday, November 1. 5.

Here’s what you need to know about early voting in Texas.

Check your registration

Early voting begins Monday and lasts until Friday, November 1.

For those who wish to vote early, first of all: are you registered? It’s too late to register for the general election, but there is a quick and easy way to make sure you’re already in the system and eligible to vote.

The Texas Secretary of State’s office has this link on their site and offers different options for checking your registration status. Most counties also have THE link on their local elections website. For example, here is the Dallas County page.

What do I bring with me?

OK, you’re registered and ready to go. What should you take with you?

You will definitely need proof of identity. Most voters take their Texas driver’s license, but a state-issued ID card is also acceptable. Passports or passport cards issued in the United States are also acceptable, as are Texas handgun permits. A full list can be found here.

If you are an immigrant and recently naturalized citizen voting for the first time, there are a few other things to note.

First of all, congratulations! And thank you for fulfilling your civic duty.

But there has been a lot of discussion and alarmism about non-citizen voting in elections. Evidence shows this is a rare phenomenon, especially in Texas. But the issue was nevertheless brought to the forefront.

If you were recently naturalized and have an ID card or driver’s license issued after you became a citizen, you should be good to go.

But recently, the Texas Secretary of State sent revised guidance to election officials asking them to request proof of naturalization if the citizen was recently naturalized and still has a temporary ID. Indeed, time-limited ID cards granted to legal residents who are not yet citizens will not be accepted in elections. So even if you’re not sure if your ID will be accepted, it’s a good idea to carry proof of naturalization, just in case.

What can I take with me?

You cannot use your phone to search for anything once you are in the polling location. It is recommended to have a list of candidates you support written on a piece of paper to remind you. Tablets and laptops are also prohibited. Here is a complete list.

Additionally, you cannot bring firearms into polling places. (Just in case you were wondering.)

Who is on the ballot?

With the exception of Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump in the nationwide presidential race, an even year means the Texas House and U.S. House races are all on the ballot voting. Certainly, some candidates have no opponent after winning their primary elections. But their names will still appear on the ballot.

Other statewide races include the U.S. Senate race, where Republican Ted Cruz is fighting for re-election against Rep. Colin Allred, a Dallas Democrat.

And, depending on where you live, some Texas Senate and mayoral candidates may also be on the ballot. For a complete list, check your county’s election website. They should have a sample ballot where you can see what other races are up for grabs. (For example, here’s the one in El Paso County and here’s the one in Travis County.)