With so much focus lasered on the 2020 presidential election, you'd be forgiven for forgetting about the statewide municipal elections in May. But there's still time.
Voters in several North Texas cities will be choosing mayors, council members, school district trustees and propositions on Saturday, May 4. The deadline for registering to vote is this week — Thursday, April 4.
April 4 is also the last day to update your address if you've moved since the last time you voted.
First, check if you're already registered
Check your voter registration status online here. If the information, including your name and address, is not correct, make sure to update it.
If you're not sure if you're even allowed to vote, check the list of criteria from the Texas Secretary of State David Whitely. (Even though voter registration and the elections themselves are run by county governments, the Secretary of State is the ultimate elections authority in Texas.)
The requirements include being a U.S. citizen, being a resident in the county where you're registering, and being at least 17 years and 10 months old at registration but 18 by the time you vote.
Not registered? Fill out the application
Texas isn't the easiest state in which to register (it's not the easiest place for voting, either). There is no online registration, though you can fill out a form online — then you must print it and mail it in, or drop it off in person at your county's voter registrar office. Find your county's voter registrar address here.
Typically you could request a postage-paid application be mailed to you. But with only a short time left until this election's registration deadline, download an application here. (En español, aquí.) If you live in Dallas County, you can download an application here that is pre-addressed and postage-paid.
Print it. Fill it out. Mail it on or before April 4 to the voter registrar in your county of residence, or drop it off.
» RELATED | View all elections coverage here
What if I moved since the last time I registered?
Even if you moved next door, you need to update your registration. Moving even a short distance away can place you in an entirely different legislative, congressional or city council district.
Fortunately, there is a way to update your address without mailing something or going to the tax office — but only if you moved within the same county. If that’s you, go here to update your address.
If you moved to a different county, you’re going to have to re-register in your new county, on paper, just like if you were registering for the first time.
INFO: North Texas elections by county
» DALLAS
Dallas County Elections Department
2377 N. Stemmons Frwy, Suite 820 Dallas, Texas, 75207
(Located on the 8th floor of the Health and Human Services Building)
Map
Website
Office hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday
Email: dallascountyvotes@dallascounty.org
Phone: 214-819-6300 (see contact form and other phone numbers here)
» TARRANT
Tarrant County Elections Administration
2700 Premier Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76111
Map
Website
Office hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday
Phone: 817-831-8683 (TDD: 817-759-7801)
» COLLIN
Collin County Elections Department
2010 Redbud Blvd., suite 102
McKinney, Texas, 75069
Map
Website
Office hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday
Email: election@collincountytx.gov
Phone: (McKinney) 972-547-1990 / (Toll free) 800-687-8546
» DENTON
Denton County Elections Administration
701 Kimberly Drive, Denton, Texas, 76208
Map
(Mailing address: P.O. Box 1720, Denton, Texas, 76202)
Website
Office hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday
Phone: 940-349-3200
Email: elections@dentoncounty.com
More county elections websites:
