Voting By Mail in Face of the Corona Virus
Though a State judge has ruled that anyone concerned about the Covid-19 corona virus is eligible to vote by mail in the November elections, our Governor continues to oppose that measure, preferring for voters to risk their lives at crowded polls. The matter is in litigation, so please check back for updates.
Meanwhile, here are the Secretary of State's official guidelines for voting by mail:
To be eligible to vote early by mail in Texas, you must:
Instructions for submitting an Application for Ballot by Mail (“ABBM”):
You can request a vote-by-mail application HERE
Meanwhile, here are the Secretary of State's official guidelines for voting by mail:
To be eligible to vote early by mail in Texas, you must:
- be 65 years or older;
- be disabled;
- be out of the county on election day and during the period for early voting by personal appearance; or
- be confined in jail, but otherwise eligible.
Instructions for submitting an Application for Ballot by Mail (“ABBM”):
- Print (PDF) the ABBM form
- OR submit an order online and an ABBM will be mailed to you.
- Complete Sections 1 through 8.
- Sign and Date Section 10.
- If you were unable to sign the application and someone witnessed your signature, that person must complete Section 11.
- If someone helped you complete the application or mailed the application for you, that person must complete Section 11.
- Affix postage.
- If you printed the application you must place it in your own envelope and add postage.
- If you ordered the application online and it was mailed to you - fold the application in half, moisten top tab, seal and add postage.
- Address and mail the completed ABBM to the Early Voting Clerk in your county. You may also fax the application if a fax machine is available in the early voting clerk’s office. You also have the option of submitting a scanned copy of the completed and signed application to the Early Voting Clerk via email. If an ABBM is faxed or emailed, then the original, hard copy of the application MUST be mailed and received by the early voting clerk no later than the 4th business day.
- The Early Voting Clerk is the County Clerk or Elections Administrator for your county
- Contact information, including fax numbers if available, and email addresses for the Early Voting Clerks are available on this website.
You can request a vote-by-mail application HERE
ALL ABOUT REGISTERING
Eligibility
To be eligible, you must be a U.S. citizen, a resident of Burnet County, 18 years of age by election day (you may apply for registration at age 17 years, 10 months), not a convicted felon (unless the sentence is completed -- including any probation or parole), and not declared mentally incapacitated or incompetent by a court of law.
If you can't register yourself, with your permission, your spouse, parent, or child can complete and sign a voter registration application for you -- as long as that person is a registered voter or has applied for voter registration. This person is known as your “agent.”
If you can't register yourself, with your permission, your spouse, parent, or child can complete and sign a voter registration application for you -- as long as that person is a registered voter or has applied for voter registration. This person is known as your “agent.”
Voter Registration Card
After you apply, a voter registration certificate (your proof of registration) will be mailed to you within 30 days. Check your certificate to be sure all information is correct. If there is a mistake, make corrections and return it to the Burnet County Elections Administrator immediately.
On your registration certificate, you will see a precinct number. Your residence is located in a specific “precinct,” or area within the county where you will vote on Election Day. In some cases, precincts may be combined to accommodate joint local elections, so always consult the Burnet County Elections Administrator in the days before an election for the address of the polling place where you’re to vote. You can find your polling place here: Burnet County Voting Precincts.
On your registration certificate, you will see a precinct number. Your residence is located in a specific “precinct,” or area within the county where you will vote on Election Day. In some cases, precincts may be combined to accommodate joint local elections, so always consult the Burnet County Elections Administrator in the days before an election for the address of the polling place where you’re to vote. You can find your polling place here: Burnet County Voting Precincts.
Verifying Registration
If you are not sure whether you are registered, use the Texas Voter Information Website that not only confirms whether you are registered or not, but will also allow you to search for your polling place location prior to an election. All you need is a Texas Driver's license to get started.
Registering Online
You can fill out a voter registration application online, print it, and mail it to the Burnet County Elections Administrator. You may not register online if you have moved from another county.
Registering by Mail
You can request a postage-paid application by filling out this form. Or you can request a postage-paid application from the Burnet County Election Administrator, so that a voter registration application can be mailed to you. Once you apply, a voter registration certificate (proof of registration) will be mailed to you within 30 days.
Registering in Person
You can obtain an application from the Burnet County Election Administrator's office, the Secretary of State's Office, libraries, many post offices, or high schools. You can also register to vote when you apply for or renew your driver's license.
ALL ABOUT VOTING
Identification
All voters who register to vote in Texas must provide a Texas driver’s license number or personal identification number issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety. If you do not have such a number, then you must state that fact on the application and provide the last four digits of your social security number. If you do not have a social security number, you must also state that fact on your application. If you have neither of these identifying numbers, you will be required to present identification other than your voter registration certificate the first time you vote. The poll worker will request you to present one of the seven acceptable forms of identification:
- Texas driver license issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
- Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS
- Texas personal identification card issued by DPS
- Texas concealed handgun license issued by DPS
- United States military identification card containing the person’s photograph
- United States citizenship certificate containing the person’s photograph
- United States passport
Voting in Person
Your residence is located in a specific "precinct," which is an area within the county. There are many precincts within a county. The place where you will vote on Election Day is located in your precinct. There may be combined precincts in order to accommodate joint local elections, so in some elections you may vote outside your designated precinct. The Burnet County Elections Administrator can give you the specific location of your polling place, or you can check on-line to see if the Burnet County Elections Administrator has that information posted. The Secretary of State’s Office may also provide polling place information at the “Where do I vote” link on its webpage prior to the primary, primary runoff, and November uniform election date elections.
Burnet County registered voters on Election Day can vote at their precinct polling locations from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
For a precinct map, visit the Burnet County website.
Burnet County registered voters on Election Day can vote at their precinct polling locations from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
For a precinct map, visit the Burnet County website.
Early Voting
Texas enables residents to vote early in person during the prescribed early voting period to make the voting process more convenient and accessible. Generally, a voter can go to any of the early voting locations in an election unless specified on the Early Voting Schedule, available at the website of the Burnet County Elections Administrator.
Voting By Mail
You can request and receive a ballot by mail if any of the following conditions prevents you from voting in-person during the early voting period or on Election Day:
Applications for a ballot by mail may be submitted throughout the calendar year, beginning January 1, and must be received by the Burnet County Election Administration office no later than the close of business on the eleventh day before Election Day. If the eleventh day before Election Day falls on a weekend, the deadline is the close of business on the first preceding business day. All voted ballots that are returned on or before Election Day will be counted. Voted ballots received on the next business day after Election Day will also be counted if they have been postmarked by Election Day. Voted ballots mailed from U.S. citizens residing outside the United States may be counted if clearly postmarked on or before Election Day and received by the Elections Administrator not later than the fifth day after Election Day.
Completed applications may be submitted by mail, contract or common carrier, fax, or you may submit by email a completed, signed with the voter’s original signature and scanned application to the Early Voting Clerk. Under Senate Bill 5, it is now required for an applicant submitting an application for ballot by mail via fax or e-mail to also submit an application for ballot by mail via mail. In order for a faxed or email application for ballot by mail to be effective, the accompanying mailed application for ballot by mail must be received within 4 days of the submission of the application by fax or email.
Request an Application for a Ballot by Mail
- Expected absence from the County during both the early voting period and on Election Day. (The ballot must be mailed to an address outside the County.)
- Disability
- 65 years of age or older
- Confinement in jail and not finally convicted of a felony
Applications for a ballot by mail may be submitted throughout the calendar year, beginning January 1, and must be received by the Burnet County Election Administration office no later than the close of business on the eleventh day before Election Day. If the eleventh day before Election Day falls on a weekend, the deadline is the close of business on the first preceding business day. All voted ballots that are returned on or before Election Day will be counted. Voted ballots received on the next business day after Election Day will also be counted if they have been postmarked by Election Day. Voted ballots mailed from U.S. citizens residing outside the United States may be counted if clearly postmarked on or before Election Day and received by the Elections Administrator not later than the fifth day after Election Day.
Completed applications may be submitted by mail, contract or common carrier, fax, or you may submit by email a completed, signed with the voter’s original signature and scanned application to the Early Voting Clerk. Under Senate Bill 5, it is now required for an applicant submitting an application for ballot by mail via fax or e-mail to also submit an application for ballot by mail via mail. In order for a faxed or email application for ballot by mail to be effective, the accompanying mailed application for ballot by mail must be received within 4 days of the submission of the application by fax or email.
Request an Application for a Ballot by Mail