Election Day is rapidly approaching, early voting in Texas begins on Monday, October 21. Anyone who recently moved to Texas from another state had to make serious efforts to obtain ID and register by Monday, October 7, 2024. The general election allows voters to cast their ballots for political races ranging from the presidential showdown between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump to members of Congress, the Texas Legislature, and other state and local elected offices.
Yet we never know when a delay may threaten to undermine progress for citizens ready to register to vote.
Delays in obtaining driver's licenses might cause worry among citizens who recently relocated to Texas regarding their 'rights' to vote in the upcoming 2024 elections in the Lone Star State. Nonetheless, despite the delay in receiving a new identification, residents can still complete the voter registration process and exercise their voting rights.
Missed The Deadline to Obtain ID?
Anyone who misses the October 7th registration deadline can still register to vote provisionally. Speak with county officials in the city where you live.
Registering is a simple process.
To get on the voter rolls, fill out a voter registration card available on the Texas Secretary of State's website. You can also do this in person at your county election office. Find a local office by clicking on this link here.)
"On the registration card, a voter will be asked for their Texas driver's license or ID card number," said Alicia Pierce, a spokesperson with the Texas Secretary of State. If you haven't received your new Texas ID, there is no need to worry.
"If they don't have that, they can provide the last four digits of their Social Security number," Pierce said.
Once the form is completed, print, sign, and mail it to the address provided on the SOS website. When you decide to vote, you must provide one of the seven recognized IDs.
For example, an Election Identification Certificate (EIC) is included in this list. For people who've never had a Texas ID, an EIC is a unique kind of identification.
You can visit in person or make an appointment with the State's Department of Public Safety to receive an EIC. When you visit the DPS office, priority is given to those applying for EICs.
"If a person does not have and cannot reasonably obtain one of those IDs, they must sign a reasonable impediment declaration and provide supporting documentation," Pierce further explained.
People Who Recently Moved to Texas, and Need to Vote in the 2024 Elections, Must First Obtain a Texas ID: Photo by Unseen Histories on Unsplash
Obtaining a Texas Driver's License
There is a quick step to finish to present your Texas driver's license at the polls. Chief among them are when you move to Texas register your vehicle within 30 days. Another important step is having your vehicle inspected. It is important to remember that, as of January 1, these rules could change. Additional information regarding these changes is available in the previously referenced source.
Make sure you have a vehicle insurance card for that step. After getting the inspection, take the insurance card, vehicle inspection report, and proof of ownership - or current car registration from your previous state - to the local county tax-assessor collector office.
Once the vehicle is registered then apply for a Texas driver's license. Under state law, a person must obtain these items within 90 days of moving. To do this, schedule an appointment with DPS or go and standby for an opening. (Make sure when you head to the DPS office the proper identification documents are with you.)
This is where things get a little more complicated. Depending on which DPS location you're trying to visit, you might not be able to get an appointment for months. When this story was published, wait times for appointments at Texas Department of Public Safety locations in the Austin area ranged from two weeks to a month.
Why Wait So Long For a License Appointment?
To lessen excessive delays and relieve long lines the Texas DPS recently announced that driver's license offices will temporarily open for the next few Saturdays. Standby appointments are available at DPS offices for those unable to wait 30 days for a new license, but there's no guarantee on the wait period to obtain ID.
The state implemented the online appointment system in May 2020, thus reducing the long physical lines at DPS offices, although virtual queues still exist.