FORT WORTH, Texas – Citizens of Texas are scheduled to cast their ballots in the primary election this Tuesday.
Find out where to vote in Tarrant County and essential information to be aware of before participating.
Polling Locations in Tarrant County
Tarrant County residents have the flexibility to cast their votes at any designated polling place within the county on election day.
You can check your voter registration, find your precinct, and view sample ballots or refer to the provided list of polling sites.
Tarrant County Voting Wait Times
Anticipated wait times for Tarrant County voters can be viewed online via this Tarrant County Voter Wait Times interactive map.
Poll Closing Times
On election day, all polling places will operate from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. If you are in line by 7:00 PM, you retain the right to cast your vote.
Tarrant County Ballot Contents
To access more sample ballots and supplementary information, please visit your county’s election page.
For verification within your particular county, navigate to the Am I Registered section of the Secretary of State’s website. This resource provides voting locations and a direct link to view “Who’s on the ballot?”
Essential Information for Voters
Understanding Primary Elections
Primary elections are conducted by political parties to select their respective candidates. The successful candidate from each primary will subsequently compete against the opposing party’s candidate in the general election held in November.
To secure victory, a candidate needs to obtain over fifty percent of the total votes. Should no candidate achieve a majority, the two candidates with the most votes will proceed to a run-off election scheduled for May 26.
While voters do not need to affiliate with a specific party to participate in a primary election, they are restricted to voting in only one party’s primary. Furthermore, their eligibility for any subsequent run-off election will be limited to the primary of the party they initially voted for.
Choosing a Primary Election to Vote In
In Texas, registered voters have the option to select which party’s primary election they wish to participate in.
Texas operates a fully open primary system, one of 15 such states, allowing any registered voter to cast a ballot in a particular party’s primary without requiring formal membership in that party.
Conversely, only ten states employ closed primaries, where participation is limited strictly to registered party members.
Other states across the country adhere to systems that either permit independent voters to make their primary choice at the polling place or empower the state to pre-determine whether unaffiliated voters or those from other parties can vote in their primary contests.
In the event of a primary election advancing to a runoff, only individuals who participated in that specific party’s initial primary or those who did not vote at all in the primary are eligible to cast ballots in the runoff.
Identification Requirements for Voting
Texas voters are required to show a valid photo identification to vote in person, whether during early voting or on election day. Below is a list of approved photo IDs:
- Texas Driver License issued by the Texas 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
- United States Passport (book or card)
If a voter lacks an acceptable photo ID and cannot reasonably acquire one, they may present one of the following supporting identification documents:
- Copy or original of a government document that shows the voter’s name and 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
- 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)
To learn more about valid forms of identification and options if you don’t possess one, follow this link.
Voting with Expired Identification
For voters aged 18 to 69 with an acceptable photo ID, the identification must either be current or have expired no more than four years prior to be valid for voting. However, for those aged 70 and above, a photo ID can be accepted regardless of its expiration date, provided it is otherwise valid.
Bringing Sample Ballots or Notes to the Polls
The U.S. government, states that voters are permitted to bring notes or a sample ballot with them to polling places. Nonetheless, mobile phone usage is prohibited inside the polling area, necessitating that any such materials be printed beforehand. It is recommended to confirm this with your local election office prior to your visit.
Firearms at Polling Places
No. The presence of handguns within a polling facility is restricted solely to peace officers, whether on or off duty.
Using Phones While Voting
Both yes and no. Electronic devices such as cell phones, cameras, tablets, laptops, or any audio/visual recording equipment are prohibited for use within the designated voting area. However, these devices may be used outside the voting room, provided they are not utilized for recording purposes. Recording of any kind is forbidden within 100 feet of a polling station.
Political Apparel at Polls
Negative. Individuals are prohibited from wearing attire or similar articles associated with any candidate, ballot measure, or political party, irrespective of whether they appear on the current ballot. This regulation is enforced within a 100-foot radius of any polling station. You will be instructed to either remove or conceal such clothing prior to entry into the facility.
Bringing Children to the Polls
Affirmative. In accordance with the Texas Election Code, a minor under the age of 18 is permitted to accompany a voting parent.
Reporting Voting Problems
For assistance with issues or inquiries, contact the Secretary of State’s complimentary election hotline at 1-800-252-VOTE (8683) or send an email to [email protected]. Should you wish to lodge a formal complaint, download the complaint form here. Submissions are accepted via mail, fax, or email.
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Information Origin: The details presented in this article are derived from the official Tarrant County Election website.