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Early voting for the November election will start on Monday, and if you plan to vote by mail, make sure to apply for a mail-in ballot before the deadline on Oct. 25. In Texas, you can vote by mail if you meet certain criteria such as being out of the county during early voting and on Election Day, being sick or disabled, expecting to give birth around Election Day, being 65 or older, or being in prison but still eligible to vote.

It’s important to note that around 10% of applications for mail-in ballots get rejected due to missing ID numbers or other issues. In 2021, Senate Bill 1 was passed, which imposed new restrictions and penalties related to voting, including additional ID requirements for mail-in voters.

Travis County Clerk Dyana Limon-Mercado emphasized that the process of applying for a mail-in ballot can be complicated due to the various rules and options available. For those new to the process, she advised reaching out to the elections office for assistance in completing the application accurately.

When applying for a mail-in ballot, you will need to provide either your driver’s license number or Social Security number, which was not required before the new law. Limon-Mercado suggested including both numbers to avoid any confusion and ensure that your application is accepted without any issues.

Additionally, including your voter registration number, if known, can be beneficial. The deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot is Oct. 25 at 5 p.m. To stay updated on your application status, as well as to find information about the ballot and voting locations, you can visit votetravis.gov.

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