Texas Primary Elections: What Voters Need to Know

By VICTORIA OLIVARES/Staff Writer

Texas primary elections are coming up. Voting in the primaries will narrow which candidates get to make it on the November general election. The voter registration deadline is Feb. 2. 

A student must be a U.S. citizen, not have a felony conviction, a resident of the county a person wants to vote in and be at least 18 years old to begin registering to vote. Apart from this, a person must show one valid form of photo identification when going in to vote.

Photo Identification to Bring

• U.S. passport
• Driver’s license issued by Texas DPS
• Texas election identification certificate or card issued by DPS
• Texas handgun license issued by DPS
• U.S. military identification card with a valid photo
• U.S. citizenship certificate with a valid photo

If you are unsure if you are currently registered to vote, you can check through websites such as https://goelect.txelections.civixapps.com/ivis-mvp-ui/#/login to see if you are.

You may have been taken off the list if you have not voted in the last two federal elections, which would be roughly 4 years. If you are not registered you can go to in person registering stations or register online through https://vrrequest.sos.texas.gov/VoterApplication/ConfirmStatusEN. Once you have finished your application, you will have to mail it to the local County Voter Registrar. 

For more information go to https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/reqvr.shtml o para Español visita https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/reqvrspanish.shtml 

If Registered to Vote in Another County, There Are Two Options

• You are able to re-register with a new address virtually through https://txapps.texas.gov/tolapp/sos/SOSACManager or through any physical registering stations that pop up.
• OR fill out a limited ballot during the Early Voting time. There just may be some limitations when it comes to voting on individual county questions since you are not voting in the county you registered in.

Early Voting Locations

Each location in Smith County will be open each day during early voting.

• The HUB: 304 E Ferguson Street, Tyler, TX 75702
• Heritage Building: 1900 Bellwood Road, Tyler, TX 75701
• Lindale Kinzie Community Center: 912 Mt. Sylvan St., Lindale, TX 75771
• Noonday Community Center: 16662 CR 196, Tyler, TX 75703
• Whitehouse Methodist Church: 405 W Main Street, Whitehouse, TX 75791

Early Voting Hours

• 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 17–20
• 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Feb. 21
• 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 22
• 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Feb. 23–27

Election Day Locations

Locations will be open on March 3 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• The HUB: 304 E Ferguson St., Tyler, TX 75702
• Arp Community Center: 108 E. Longview St., Arp, TX 75750 (NEW)
• Bell Elementary School: 1409 E. Hankerson St., Tyler, TX 75701
• Bethel Bible Church: 17121 Hwy 69 S., Tyler, TX 75703
• Cameron J Jarvis Library: 102 S Georgia St., Troup, TX 75789
• Cornerstone Church: 9107 Paluxy Dr., Tyler TX 75703 (NEW)
• Chapel Hill Fire Department: 13801 CR 220, Tyler, TX 75707
• Clarkston Elementary School: 2915 Williamsburg Dr., Tyler, TX 75701
• Cross Brand Cowboy Church: 11915 FM 2015, Tyler, TX 75708
• First Baptist Church Gresham: 16844 CR 165, Tyler, TX 75703
• First Christian Church: Christian Life Center Gym: 4202 S Broadway Ave, Tyler, TX 75701
• Flint Baptist Church: 11131 FM 2868 W, Flint, TX 75762
• Garden Valley Baptist Church: 17816 CR 442, Lindale, TX 75771
• Glass Recreation Center: 501 W 32nd St., Tyler, TX 75702
• Greater Life Church: 2751 FM 344 E., Bullard, TX 75757 (NEW)
• Heritage Building: 1900 Bellwood Rd., Tyler, TX 75701
• Hideaway Members Svcs Building: 101 Hide-A-Way Ln, Hideaway, TX 75771
• Hill Creek Baptist Church: 14749 Hwy 110 S, Whitehouse, TX 75791
• Jones-Boshears Elementary School: 3450 Chandler Hwy, Tyler, TX 75702
• Lanes Chapel Methodist Church: Family Center: 8720 Old Jacksonville Hwy, Tyler, TX 75703
• Lindale Kinzie Community Center: 912 Mt. Sylvan St., Lindale, TX 75771
• New Harmony Baptist Church: 10251 FM 724, Tyler, TX 75704
• Noonday Community Center: 16662 CR 196, Tyler, TX 75703
• Old Tyler Airport: 150 Airport Dr., Tyler, TX 75704
• Rose Heights Church – Lindale: 12465 FM 16, Lindale, TX 75771
• Shiloh Road Church of Christ: 1801 Shiloh Rd., Tyler, TX 75703
• St. Louis Baptist Church: 4000 Frankston Hwy., Tyler, TX 75701
• St. Violet Baptist Church: 14129 FM 2767, Tyler, TX 75708
• Starrville Church of the Living God: 18396 Hwy 271, Winona, TX 75792
• Three Lakes Middle School: 2445 Three Lakes Pkwy., Tyler, TX 75703
• Tyler Junior College-West Campus: 1530 SSW Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
• Tyler Senior Center: 1915 Garden Valley Rd., Tyler, TX 75702
• Whitehouse Methodist Church: 405 W Main St., Whitehouse, TX 75791
• Winona Community Center: 520 Dallas St., Winona, TX 75792

To Access Sample Ballots

There are two ballots that individuals will vote on, Democratic and Republican precinct ballots. 

• Democratic ballot through https://portal.laserfiche.com/Portal/DocView.aspx?id=2575&repo=r-927d42fb 
• Republican ballot through https://portal.laserfiche.com/Portal/DocView.aspx?id=2576&repo=r-927d42fb 

Don’t Forget Your Individual Rights at The Polls

• Your ballot is secret and must be confidential
• You have the right to a replacement ballot if your ballot is wrong in most cases
• You can ask for help how to vote, however, you are not allowed to be told who or what to vote for
• You are allowed to bring it a piece of paper for yourself to simplify what is on your ballot

For any additional questions or notices about poll information, contact your county’s voter registration office which you can look up at https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/votregduties.shtml or visit the Smith County website directly at https://www.smith-county.com/233/Current-Election-Information.