Local residents planning to vote by mail in federal, state and local elections Tuesday, November 5, should note that the last day to apply for a ballot by mail is Friday, October 25.
Early voting by personal appearance in the general election will get underway Monday, October 21. More information about early voting locations and times will be printed in next week’s edition.
Those eligible to vote by mail include those who will be 65 years or older by Election Day; those who cite a sickness or disability that prevents them from voting in person without needing personal assistance or without the likelihood of injuring their health; those who will not be in their home county for the entire election period, including early voting; those who are expected to give birth within three weeks before or after Election Day; and those who are confined in jail but otherwise eligible (i.e., not convicted of a felony).
The last day for a county to receive a mailed ballot is Election Day, November 5, or Wednesday, November 6, if postmarked.
Those mailing ballots overseas have until the fifth day after Election Day as long as the ballot is postmarked on November 5. Military voters who mail ballots domestically or from overseas who submitted a Federal Post Card Application must return ballots by the sixth day after Election Day.
To request an application to vote by mail, call the Hill County Elections Administration Office at 254-582-4072. Applications can then be submitted by mail, fax or email. Those who email or fax their applications must also send the original hard copy to the elections office.
Voters who are disabled or 65 and older can use a single application to request ballots for all county elections in the calendar year. To do so, mark “Annual Application” on your application for a ballot by mail when selecting the election for which you are applying.
For those who need help filling out the Application for Ballot By Mail (ABBM), the person who assists them must check the assistant box in Box 6 of the application. They must also provide their signature, written name and residential address.
For more details about assistance requirements, visit votetexas.gov or contact the elections office.
It is important to note that certain identification is required to vote by mail.
Mail voters must provide one of the following numbers on the ballot by mail application and the mail ballot carrier envelope: driver’s license number; Texas personal identification number; Texas election ID certificate number (issued by DPS; different from the number found on the voter registration certificate); or the last four digits of their Social Security number.
For additional details about ballot by mail requirements or answers to specific questions, visit votetexas.gov or contact the Hill County Elections Administration Office at 254-582-4072.
Hill County also offers the “TextMyGov” service that provides voters quick access to frequently asked questions about voting. Simply text “Hi” to 254-266-6442 to get started.
The Lakelander 