Texans interested in casting a ballot in next month’s primary runoff election have one week to register to vote or update their registration, if applicable.
April 27 is the deadline to register to vote in the runoff election. Voters who participate in the May 26 runoff will weigh in on state and local primary races that ended without a clear winner in March.
Keep reading for the details on voter registration and Texas’ runoff election process.
The background
Texas’ primary runoff election will be held May 26. A runoff is held when no candidate secures over half of the vote in a partisan primary race.
State law requires primary candidates to receive more than 50% of the vote to advance to a general election, meaning a candidate must earn a majority of the vote—not just the highest number of votes—to win their primary outright. In races where no candidate picked up enough votes March 3, the two highest-performing candidates advanced to runoffs.
The winner of each runoff race will appear on the November ballot.
The runoff election is separate from upcoming local elections, which take place May 2. Visit www.communityimpact.com/voter-guide for more information about the May 2 elections.
Registering to vote
Texans have through April 27 to submit a paper voter registration application, which is available here. Applications must be printed, signed and mailed to the voter registration office in a voter’s county of residence, according to the secretary of state’s office. Prospective voters can also contact or visit their local election office to register.
State law does not allow online voter registration unless residents are updating, renewing or replacing an existing Texas driver’s license or ID card through the Department of Public Safety.
To be eligible to register to vote, an individual must:
- Be a U.S. citizen
- Reside in the county they apply to vote in
- Be at least 18 years old by election day
- Not have been declared mentally incapacitated without the right to vote by a court
Convicted felons generally are not eligible to vote, although Texans who complete their sentence, probation and parole may become eligible, per the secretary of state.
Click here to check a voter’s registration status. Registered voters can also update their address and other information online or contact their local voter registrar.
On the ballot
Various federal, state and local races will appear on the May 26 runoff ballot.
At the top of the ticket, Republican voters will pick between incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and state Attorney General Ken Paxton to determine the party’s nominee for U.S. Senate. The winner of that race will face state Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, in November.
Here are several federal and state races on the Republican runoff ballot:
- U.S. Senate: Cornyn versus Paxton
- Texas attorney general: state Sen. Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston, versus U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Austin
- Texas railroad commissioner: incumbent Jim Wright versus former Tarrant County GOP chair Bo French
- Texas’ new 9th Congressional District: Army veteran Alex Mealer versus state Rep. Briscoe Cain, R-Deer Park
- Texas’ new 35th Congressional District: state Rep. John Lujan, R-San Antonio, versus Air Force veteran Carlos De La Cruz
Some state and federal runoffs on the Democratic ballot include:
- Texas attorney general: state Sen. Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas, versus former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski
- Texas lieutenant governor: state Rep. Vikki Goodwin, D-Austin, versus union leader Marcos Velez
- Texas’ new 18th Congressional District: incumbent Christian Menefee, D-Houston, versus U.S. Rep. Al Green, who currently represents District 9
- Texas’ new 33rd Congressional District: former U.S. Rep. Colin Allred versus U.S. Rep. Julie Johnson, who currently represents District 32
Community Impact will publish updated Q&As with runoff candidates in statewide races in early May.
Texans who did not participate in the March primaries can vote in either party’s runoff this May. Voters who cast ballots in the Republican primary are only allowed to vote in the Republican runoff, and those who voted in the Democratic primary can only vote in the Democratic runoff.
Individuals who participated in third-party nominating conventions may not vote in another party’s primary or runoff under state law.
Dates to know
- April 27: last day to register to vote or update information
- May 15: deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot
- May 18: first day of early in-person voting
- May 22: last day to vote early
- May 26: runoff election day