Ready. Check. Vote. Statewide Grassroots Tour Begins

Election Day is getting closer and closer and while November may seem far away from now, don't forget that early voting for the November 3rd Election begins on October 13, about one month from now.

On Thursday, Texas Secretary of State Ruth R. Hughs announced a new statewide tour to help educate voters about what they will need to bring to the polls to vote. According to a press release, the tour will be contactless and a new, safe approach to educating voters during the coronavirus pandemic.

Texas Secretary of State Ruth R. Hughs today announced a new statewide grassroots tour as part of the "Ready. Check. Vote." initiative to safely educate Texas voters about what they need to bring to the polls when they cast their ballot. The contactless tour will utilize a 16-foot box truck that is wrapped in attention-grabbing messaging in both English and Spanish that will generate awareness and direct voters to VoteTexas.gov, the State of Texas' official election website. There, Texans will find the seven approved forms of photo identification and what to do if they do not possess and cannot reasonably obtain one of these seven forms.

“Although COVID-19 may have changed how we approach outreach, it has not changed our commitment to ensuring that Texas voters are informed, prepared, and ready to cast their ballot,” said Secretary Hughs. “This contactless grassroots tour will help educate Texas voters on the approved forms of photo ID and ensure that Texans are able to make their voices heard this November.”

The tour will visit Lubbock, Sweetwater, Post, and Snyder on September 23rd.

In order to cast a ballot in the upcoming election, voters who have one of seven approved forms of ID must show their ID at the polls.

Texas voters who possess one of the seven approved forms of photo ID must present that ID at the polls. Voters who do not possess and cannot reasonably obtain one of the seven forms of approved photo ID may execute a Reasonable Impediment Declaration form, available to them at each polling location, and provide a supporting form of identification. In addition, some voters may qualify for an exemption to presenting an acceptable form of photo identification or following the Reasonable Impediment Declaration procedure.

The seven forms of approved photo ID are:

• 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 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 (book or card)

Visit VoteTexas.gov for more information or call 1-800-252-VOTE.