Table of Contents
Accepted Forms of ID
To vote in person in Texas, most voters need one of the forms of identification (ID) listed below.
- Texas Driver’s License issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety
- Texas Personal ID Card issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety
- Texas Election ID Certificate (Voting Only Photo ID) issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (see below to find out how to get one)
- Texas Handgun License issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety
- United States Military ID Card showing your photo
- United States Citizenship Certificate showing your photo
- United States Passport Book or Card
Alternative Forms of ID
Voters who do not possess and cannot reasonably obtain one of the above seven required forms of photo ID may still vote if they fill out a Reasonable Impediment Declaration (RID) at the polls and present the original version or a copy of one of the following alternative forms of identification:
- Voter registration certificate
- Current utility bill
- Bank statement
- Government check
- Paycheck
- Certified domestic (from a US state or territory) birth certificate or a court admissible birth document
- Government document with your name and an address
After presenting one of the forms of supporting ID, the voter must fill out a Reasonable Impediment Declaration. Reasonable impediments identified on the Reasonable Impediment Declaration are:
- lack of transportation
- disability or illness
- lack of birth certificate or other documents needed to obtain acceptable photo ID
- work schedule
- family responsibilities
- lost or stolen ID
- acceptable form of photo ID applied for but not received
A voter must qualify for one of these reasonable impediments in order to execute a Reasonable Impediment Declaration. The reasonableness of your impediment cannot be questioned.
NOTE: It is a criminal violation and a voter is subject to prosecution for perjury if the voter provides a false statement or false information on a Reasonable Impediment Declaration.
Photo ID Exemptions
If you’re a voter with a disability who doesn’t have a photo ID, you may be eligible for a photo ID exemption. Get a permanent exemption from the photo ID requirement if you meet one or both of the requirements below.
- You can provide proof (benefit verification letter) to your county voter registrar that you have a disability determination from the U.S. Social Security Administration.
- You are a veteran who can provide proof (rating percentage letter) to your county voter registrar that you have a disability rating of more than 50% from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Complete the Texas Secretary of State’s Disability Exemption Form (PDF) and mail it, along with your proof of disability letter, to your county voter registrar so that it is received at least 30 days prior to an election.
Questions?
If you have questions, call the Disability Rights Texas Voters Hotline at 1-888-796-VOTE (8683) or send an email to vote@drtx.org.
Voting Texts
Sign up for the DRTx voting news & info text list so you receive important voting information and reminders on your phone. To sign up, text the word VOTE to 844-937-3904. (Messaging and data rates apply.)
Last updated: April 6, 2022
Publication Code: HA15
www.DRTx.org
Statewide Intake: 1-800-252-9108
Sign Language Video Phone: 1-866-362-2851
Purple 2 Video Phone: 512-271-9391
Online Intake available 24/7: intake.DRTx.org
Disclaimer: Disability Rights Texas strives to update its materials on an annual basis, and this handout is based upon the law at the time it was written. The law changes frequently and is subject to various interpretations by different courts. Future changes in the law may make some information in this handout inaccurate.
The handout is not intended to and does not replace an attorney’s advice or assistance based on your particular situation.
To request this handout in ASL, Braille, or as an audio file, contact us.