Can You Stay Registered To Vote In Washington State If You Get An Az Drivers Lincence

When Jarrod Stringer updated his driver'due south license address in 2014, the Texas Section of Public Prophylactic website asked if he wanted to register to vote. He clicked aye and thought he was registered. That fall, when he went to vote in San Antonio, he was denied. According to the system, he had never registered. It was past the registration deadline, and so he couldn't vote.

That kicked off a half-dozen-year legal battle that included two lawsuits for the correct for Texans to register to vote online while updating their licenses.

"It'south traumatic when you tin't vote," Stringer said. "Information technology's implicitly saying, 'You don't accept a voice. You can't participate in alter.'"

On Wednesday, Stringer won that "mind-boggling" fight with the state of Texas two weeks earlier the borderline to register to vote in 2020. Acting on a federal judge's orders, the land updated its online systems to let people to add their names to the voter rolls when they update their licenses.

Voting in Texas

When was the last day to register to vote?

The deadline to annals to vote in the 2020 general ballot was Oct. 5. Check if yous're registered to vote here. If not, you'll need to fill out and submit an application, which you tin can asking here or download here.
When can I vote early on?

Early voting for the 2020 full general election runs from Oct. 13 to October. 30. Voters can cast ballots at any polling location in the county where they are registered to vote during early voting. Election Solar day is Nov. 3.
How will voting be different because of the pandemic?

In general, polling locations will accept guidelines in place for social distancing and regular cleaning. Several counties will offer ballot mark devices and then voters avoid contact with election equipment. Poll workers will likely be wearing face up masks and other protective equipment, merely masks will not exist required for voters.
How do I know if I qualify to vote past mail?

Texas is one of just a few states that hasn't opened upward postal service-in voting to any voter concerned about getting COVID-19 at a polling identify. You tin find eligibility requirements and review other questions about voting by mail hither.
Are polling locations the same on Election Day as they are during early voting?

Not e'er. You'll want to check for open polling locations with your local elections office before you head out to vote. Additionally, you can ostend with your county elections office whether Ballot Day voting is restricted to locations in your designated precinct or if you lot can cast a ballot at any polling place.
Tin I yet vote if I have COVID-19?

Yes. If you lot have been diagnosed with COVID-xix or are exhibiting symptoms, consider requesting an emergency mail-in ballot or using curbside voting. Contact your canton elections office for more details about both options.
Run across our voter guide

Have you meet hurdles or issues while trying to vote in Texas? Nosotros want your help in reporting on those challenges. Tell The Texas Tribune your voting story.

Supported By: The Texas 2020 Voter Guide logo

While it's a express stride — the online option is even so only available to people updating their licenses — the change marks the kickoff time Texans accept been able to register to vote online, which advocates say could significantly increase turnout both this year and for future elections.

Mimi Marziani, the president of the Texas Ceremonious Rights Project, which brought frontwards the lawsuits, said the modify specifically helps marginalized Texans, who most often movement.

"This is admittedly a victory for voting rights for all Texans," Marziani said. "Information technology's a particular victory for younger Texans, poorer Texans and Texans of color."

The National Voter Registration Deed, known as the motor voter police, requires states to let residents consummate their voter registration applications when they apply for or renew their driver's licenses. Marziani said she took upwards the case considering Stringer had been denied that right.

Previously, Texans like Stringer who tried to register while using the state's online license portal were directed to a bare registration form they had to fill out, print and ship to their county registrar. The land was forced to alter that system after U.Southward. Commune Approximate Orlando Garcia ruled last month that DPS is "legally obligated" to let voters to simultaneously register to vote with every license renewal or alter-of-accost awarding. Garcia had ordered the state to gear up up a "fully operable" online system by Midweek.

"The Secretary of State and Texas Department of Public Condom are in compliance with the court'south order," said Kayleigh Date, a spokesperson for the Function of the Attorney Full general, in a statement.

According to Marziani, 1.nine million Texans apply the Section of Public Safety'south online portal to update their driving information each year, and 96% of eligible Texans have their driver'southward licenses. Texas drivers tin can renew their licenses online if they renewed them in person the previous time, they are older than 18 but younger than 79, and their licenses elapse within 2 years or have been expired for less than two years, amongst other restrictions. Texas has more than 16.half dozen million registered voters.

The coronavirus has brought widespread business concern about how people can vote safely in Texas this November, specially equally the state's elected leaders have resisted the thought of broadening who is eligible to vote by mail. Campaigns and advocates from both parties have found that registering new voters has been a claiming without online voting. Forty-one states take passed legislation to allow residents to register to vote online; Texas is non one of them.

Marziani said Wednesday's move shows the country has the infrastructure in identify to expand online voting beyond DPS and renewing driver's licenses.

"The system they use is the exact same system that they would implement for a broader online voter registration," Marziani said. "This is a flashing green light for the Legislature to finally bring Texas in line with states across the country and laissez passer online voter registration."

Date did non reply questions about whether this would be possible or whether the state expected to expand online voter registration.

While some land leaders have staunchly opposed whatsoever form of online registration, Garcia's ruling last month said online registration would actually bolster security and election integrity.

"Uncontested expert testimony shows that a compliant DPS system would very likely lead to nifty efficiency, less human mistake, a massive saving in costs, and increased voter registration," Garcia wrote.

For Stringer, who moved again in August and waited to update his license until Wednesday, the activity past the state was a relief.

"The representation of the people in the state of Texas is more off-white today than information technology was two weeks agone," he said. "Part of what it means to be a citizen is to vote without duress. Information technology'south a huge deal."