National elections get all the attention but local elections have 10x more impact on your daily life.
How to register:
- Texas voter registration: votetexas.gov
- Deadline: 30 days before an election
- You need: Texas driver's license or state ID, SSN last 4, and a Texas address
- Online registration NOT available in Texas (as of 2026). Must mail or submit in person.
Where to vote:
- Find your polling location: votetexas.gov/voting/where.html
- Dallas County: dallasvotes.org
- Tarrant County: tarrantcounty.com/en/elections
- Collin County: collincountytx.gov/elections
- Denton County: votedenton.gov
What you're voting for locally:
- City council members
- School board members
- Bond packages (these authorize billions in spending)
- State representatives and senators
- County judges (yes, you vote for judges in Texas)
- Sheriff, DA, and other county officials
How to research candidates:
- Vote411.org — nonpartisan voter guide. Source: vote411.org
- Ballotpedia — candidate backgrounds and positions. Source: ballotpedia.org
- League of Women Voters of DFW — candidate forums. Source: lwvdallas.org
- Your local newspaper's endorsements (agree or disagree, they provide analysis)
Early voting:
- Texas has extensive early voting (usually 2 weeks before election day)
- Lines are shorter during early voting than on election day
- Any early voting location in your county — not just your assigned precinct
Sources:
- VoteTexas.gov
- County election websites
- League of Women Voters
Your vote matters more in local elections than anywhere else. Use it.