Early in-person voting for Texas’ March 3 primary elections runs from Feb. 17 through Feb. 27, giving registered voters 11 days to cast ballots in key federal, statewide and local races that often determine November outcomes.
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In Texas, early in-person voting for the primary elections begins on February 17 and runs until February 27. This period provides registered voters throughout the state with an 11-day opportunity to cast their ballots prior to the primary election day on March 3.
In Texas, the open primary system allows voters at the polling place to choose whether to participate in the Democratic or Republican primary elections. They may not participate in both elections. Residents are permitted to cast their ballots at any polling location within their home county during the early voting period, as stated by the Texas Secretary of State. The registration cutoff date for the March primaries was set for February 2.
Winners of the primary elections will move forward to the general election scheduled for November 3. If no candidate secures more than 50% of the vote, the top two contenders will face off in a runoff scheduled for May 26. Voters in a primary election may cast their ballots in that party's subsequent runoff; however, they may not change their party affiliation.
This year, voters will have the opportunity to cast their ballots for all 150 seats in the Texas House and 16 of the 31 seats in the state Senate. In the upcoming elections, voters will have the opportunity to cast their ballots for various key positions, including one U.S. Voters will also have the opportunity to cast their ballots for key positions such as the U.S. Senate seat, governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, comptroller, land commissioner, agriculture commissioner, and one railroad commissioner. The upcoming judicial contests feature four seats on the Texas Supreme Court, three positions on the Court of Criminal Appeals, and three justiceships on the 15th Court of Appeals. The upcoming elections will feature Texas's 38 congressional seats alongside eight positions on the State Board of Education, both of which are set to be contested.
Voters may encounter local offices, such as county commissioners and justices of the peace, depending on their precinct. Voters will find nonbinding party propositions on their ballots, designed to assess public opinion without the power to enact legislation.
Advocacy groups and election experts highlight the significant impact of primary elections in Texas, noting that voter turnout is generally lower and many districts exhibit a strong partisan lean. In a revealing analysis of the 2022 electoral landscape, it was determined that a staggering 146 of Texas's 150 House races were essentially settled in the primaries. This left only four seats deemed competitive in the subsequent general election.
“When primary voter turnout is so small, when only a fraction of voters are voting, your vote counts more,” said Mark Strama, who leads the Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life at the University of Texas. He referred to the primary as “the most impactful vote” that Texans have the opportunity to cast.
In a significant development, multiple members of Texas's congressional delegation have announced they will not pursue reelection. Additionally, a comprehensive redistricting effort in 2025 has altered 37 of the state's 38 congressional districts, paving the way for possible changes in political representation.
Polling locations and sample ballots are available for voters through the state voter portal or by contacting their local election office.
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