Need help voting? Try Texas Curbside Voting for quick access

HOUSTON — When mobility issues make voting difficult, Texas offers a solution: curbside voting.

After receiving a question from local residents George and Susan, we explored how this option could help voters who may have difficulty getting to the polls.

George and Susan’s situation: George recently contacted us with a question. In his email, he explained that his 77-year-old wife, Susan, who requested a mail-in ballot, had not yet received it.

According to the county board of elections, Susan will have to cancel her original mail-in ballot request in person before a new one can be issued, a difficult task given her mobility issues.

To help, we contacted the county elections office on behalf of George and Susan, and they promised to contact the couple to resolve the issue.

If you or someone you know is in a similar situation—where voting by mail isn’t an option and getting into a polling place may be difficult—curbside voting may be a solution. Here’s how curbside voting works:

How to use curbside voting

• Tell us your polling station: Call your polling place ahead of time and let them know you want to vote curbside.

• Voting from your car: When you arrive, an election official will bring you your ballot.

• Submit your ballot securely: Once voting is complete, hand your ballot to an election official who will ensure it is securely placed in the ballot box. If you have a companion with you, they can send it on your behalf.

Deciding to vote in person rather than by mail.

If you requested a mail-in ballot but decided to vote in person instead, you still have options:

• Bring your mail-in ballot to the polling station: Give your unused mail-in ballot to an election judge, who will invalidate it so you can vote in person.

• Don’t have a mail-in ballot? If you don’t have a mail-in ballot, you can still vote in person by filling out the Vote-by-Vote Cancellation form. An election judge will guide you through this process.

Important reminders about mailing ballots

For those sending ballots by mail, remember they must be postmarked by 7:00 pm on Election Day and received by 5:00 pm the next day to be counted.

For more information about curbside voting and other voting options, contact your county elections office or visit VoteTexas.gov.