Early Voting Starts Today: Get Ready, Then Vote

The League of Women Voters' Voters Guide, VOTE411.org, a printable ballot worksheet and plain-language explainers help Travis County voters know exactly what's on their ballot before they go vote.

TRAVIS COUNTY, TEXAS - Early voting in the Nov. 3 midterm election begins today and runs through Friday, Oct. 30. The League of Women Voters of the Austin Area (LWVAA) is urging voters to take one step before heading to the polls: get ready. That means finding out what's on your ballot, reading up on the candidates and measures, planning when and where to vote, and bringing an acceptable photo ID to the polls.

The printed Voters Guides are out. League volunteers have distributed all of the 40,000 printed copies of the 2026 Voters Guide (28,000 in English and 12,000 in Spanish) to grocery stores, libraries, community centers and businesses across Travis County. This includes select H-E-B, Central Market and Whole Foods stores, and about 52,000 more went out as an insert in the Oct. 8 Austin Chronicle. Many are still on racks around town, and a map of locations is coming to lwvaustin.org. 

Voters who can't find a paper copy can still get everything in the 56-page Voters Guide online at VOTE411.org. By entering their address, voters can see which races they can vote in and generate a personalized ballot with candidate information. A ballot worksheet can help voters prepare and increase their confidence when they go vote prepared, since no phones or electronics are allowed in the voting booth.

“Most voters have a pretty good idea of where they stand on the races at the top of the ballot. But there are so many other important decisions further down the ballot, including school boards, community college trustees, bond proposals, and local propositions. These are decisions that directly affect our schools, neighborhoods, and everyday lives, and they deserve just as much attention,” said Claudia Torres-Yañez, Vice President of Voter Services

“My encouragement to voters is simple: take a little time before you head to the polls. Look up your sample ballot, use the League's nonpartisan Voters Guide to learn about the candidates and issues, and make note of your choices. You don't have to be an expert to be an informed voter. A little preparation goes a long way toward walking into the voting booth with confidence.”

Four steps to get ready

1.     Preview your ballot. Enter your address at vote411.org/tx-lwvaa (Spanish: vote411.org/es/tx-lwvaa) to find out which races you are eligible to vote in, generate a personalized ballot, compare the candidates and read explanations of the propositions. The full Voters Guide is also online as a PDF in English, Spanish and Chinese at lwvaustin.org/Voters-Guide.

2.     Do your homework. Learn about the candidates and propositions. The Voters Guide prints candidates' answers in their own words, unedited. Every local proposition and bond includes its official ballot language and a plain-language explanation.

3.     Write it down. The League's new Midterm Election ballot worksheet in English or Spanish, voters print the ballot, write in their choices and bring it with them. Texas does not allow phones or other electronic devices to be used in the voting booth, so paper notes help.

4.     Make a plan. Determine when, where and how to vote. In Travis County, registered voters can vote at any early voting location. Follow-through can be easier if you plan to vote with a buddy - select your location, and make a date to do it.

VoteTravis.gov lists every polling place with its current wait time. 

Five Austin Public Library branches are polling places for both early voting and Election Day: Carver (1161 Angelina St.), Cepeda (651 N. Pleasant Valley Rd.), Ruiz (1600 Grove Blvd.) and Menchaca (5500 Menchaca Rd.) Lago Vista (5803 Thunderbird St Suite 40.) 

Another 9 library branches are Election Day sites; see library.austintexas.gov/news/2026-election-information. Bring an acceptable photo ID (list at VoteTexas.gov). 

Voting by mail? Your county must receive your ballot-by-mail application by Friday, Oct. 23. There are several ways to return your completed ballot to the elections office. If using regular mail via the US Postal Service, take your ballot to a post office counter and ask for a hand postmark. Note that it must be postmarked by 7:00 pm on Election Day and must be received by 5:00 pm on the first mail delivery day after Election Day. https://votetravis.gov/voter-information/ballot-by-mail/#AbsenteeBallotSearch

More help from the League at lwvaustin.org

•      lwvaustin.org/Upcoming-Elections: answers to common questions, like whether you have to vote in every race and what each office does

•      lwvaustin.org/Vote-In-Person: what to expect at the polls, step by step

•      lwvaustin.org/Vote-By-Mail: plain-language guidance and a link to the state's ballot tracker

•      lwvaustin.org/Voting-in-College: for student voters

•      lwvaustin.org/Need-Help-Voting: for voters who may need assistance

•      lwvaustin.org/VG-Locations: where to find remaining printed guides (map coming soon)

New this year: illustrated explainers with The Austin Common. In addition to their own social media, @lwvaustinarea, LWVAA partnered with The Austin Common, a local civic news outlet, to produce additional content this election season. The Austin Common's candidate interviews and illustrated voter guides on propositions, bonds, City Council district races and other down-ballot contests are shared on The Austin Common's Instagram (@the_austin_common), giving voters short, visual ways to get up to speed.

Find League volunteers at Let's Vote tables

Locals preparing to vote can speak with volunteers to get their voting process questions answered, pick up a Voters Guide and a ballot worksheet or get VOTE411 information at the following locations:

•     Wed, Oct. 21, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.: Riverbat Bash, ACC Rio Grande, 1212 Rio Grande St.

•      Fri, Oct. 23: 7-10 p.m. at Alamo Drafthouse Mueller and Alamo Drafthouse Slaughter Lane

•      Sat, Oct. 24: 7-10 p.m. at Alamo Drafthouse Lakeline Alamo Drafthouse Mueller and Alamo Drafthouse Slaughter Lane

•      Mon, Oct. 26, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.: Riverbat Bash, ACC Eastview, 3401 Webberville Rd.

•      Tue, Oct. 27, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.: Riverbat Bash, ACC Highland, 6101 Highland Campus Dr.

•      Fri, Oct. 30: 7-10 p.m. Alamo Mueller and Alamo Slaughter Lane

•     Sat, Oct. 31: 7-10 p.m. at Alamo Mueller and Alamo Lakeline 

Photo and video opportunities

Spokespeople available at tabling:

Valerie DeBill, Director of Voter Registration & Turnout (English) 512-699-8470 

Claudia Torres-Yañez, VP Voter Services (English & Spanish) 512-680-6011

Key election dates

•      Monday, Oct. 19: early voting begins

•      Friday, Oct. 23: last day for the county to receive a ballot-by-mail application

•      Friday, Oct. 30: last day of early voting

•     Tuesday, Nov. 3: Election Day, and the day a mailed ballot must be received by the county by 7:00 p.m. Election Day. (Deadline for ballots postmarked by 7:00 on Election Day:  receipt by 5:00 p.m. the day after Election Day.)

Election information: Travis County: votetravis.gov · Williamson County: wilcotx.gov/185/Elections · Voters Guide: lwvaustin.org/Voters-Guide · VOTE411.org

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The League of Women Voters of the Austin Area is proud to be nonpartisan, neither supporting nor opposing candidates or political parties at any level of government but always working on vital issues of concern to members and the public. We encourage informed and active participation in government, work to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influence public policy through education and advocacy.