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Did you know? You can vote again after a felony in Texas.

Many people who have been to prison, or who had a felony conviction, think they lost the right to vote forever. In Texas, that is not true. This page explains, in plain words, when your right to vote comes back and how to sign up again.

  • Last checked: October 11, 2026
  • Nonpartisan
  • General information, not legal advice

Please read: This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws and deadlines can change. Every key fact below links to the official source we used, so you can check it yourself. For your own situation, call the Texas Secretary of State at 1-800-252-VOTE (8683) or your county voter registrar.

The short answer

In Texas, if you were convicted of a felony, you can vote again once you have finished your whole sentence. That means any time in prison or jail, plus any parole, supervision, or probation. A pardon also brings your vote back.

Then you just register to vote again, the same way anyone else does.

Sources: Texas Election Code §11.002; VoteTexas.gov FAQ, "Convicted Felons and Voting"

When your right to vote comes back

Texas law says a person with a felony conviction can vote again after they have:

The Texas Secretary of State says that once you finish your punishment, you are "immediately eligible to register to vote." There is no extra waiting period. (Texas Secretary of State, "Effect of Felony Conviction on Voter Registration")

Some things do not count as a "final" felony conviction

According to Texas law and the Secretary of State:

Not sure if your sentence is fully done? The rules can be tricky, for example if you have more than one case. The Texas State Law Library suggests talking to a lawyer if you're unsure. See free help below. (Texas State Law Library)

Do I need special paperwork?

In Texas, you do not have to ask a court or the governor to give your vote back once your sentence is done. It comes back on its own. The Secretary of State explains that the right to vote is restored automatically after a full discharge (unlike the right to run for office). (Texas Secretary of State)

But it is not automatic to get back on the voter list. You still need to fill out a voter registration form. (Election Code §11.002(a)(6): a voter must be "a registered voter")

On the form, you will say that you have not been finally convicted of a felony, or that you are a person with a felony conviction who is now eligible. The law lists what the form must include, and proof of a finished sentence is not on that list. (Election Code §13.002(c))

A helpful tip: keep a copy of your discharge papers somewhere safe. If the voter registrar ever has a question about your eligibility, the law gives you the right to a hearing, and your papers can help. (Election Code §§13.074–13.079)

How to register again

  1. Check if you're already registered

    Use the state's "Am I Registered?" tool. In Harris County, you can also use the Harris County voter search. If your old registration was canceled, just register again.

    Source: VoteTexas.gov, Register to Vote

  2. Get a voter registration form

    You can:

    • Fill one out on VoteTexas.gov, then print it, sign it, and mail it. You are not registered until it is mailed.
    • Ask for a free, postage-paid form by mail from the Secretary of State.
    • Pick one up at many post offices, libraries, Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) offices, and Texas Health and Human Services offices.

    Sources: Texas Secretary of State, Request for Voter Registration Applications; VoteTexas.gov FAQ

  3. Send it to your county voter registrar

    In Harris County, the voter registrar is the Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector & Voter Registrar. Mail your signed form to:

    Tax Assessor-Collector & Voter Registrar
    P.O. Box 3527
    Houston, TX 77253-3527

    You can also drop it off at any Harris County Tax Office location (open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; closed Wednesdays). For help, call 713-274-VOTE (8683), in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, or Chinese.

    Live in another county? Find your county voter registrar here.

    Source: Harris County Tax Office, Register to Vote

  4. Mind the deadline: 30 days before Election Day

    Texas law says you must register by the 30th day before an election. A mailed form counts by its postmark date. Your registration starts on the 30th day after you submit it.

    For the November 3, 2026 election, the deadline was October 5, 2026, and it has passed. If you missed it, register anyway. Your registration stays good for future elections until it is canceled.

    Sources: VoteTexas.gov, Register to Vote; Election Code §13.143

  5. Watch your mailbox

    Your county will mail you a voter registration certificate (your voter card). Sign it and keep it safe. You don't have to bring it to vote, but it can help.

    Source: VoteTexas.gov FAQ

What ID to bring when you vote in person

Bring one of these 7 kinds of photo ID:

  • Texas driver license (from DPS)
  • Texas Election Identification Certificate, called an EIC (from DPS)
  • Texas personal ID card (from DPS)
  • Texas handgun license (from DPS)
  • U.S. military ID card with your photo
  • U.S. citizenship certificate with your photo
  • U.S. passport (book or card)

If you are 18 to 69, your ID can be expired up to 4 years. If you are 70 or older, it can be expired for any length of time. The citizenship certificate does not expire. The address on your ID does not have to match your voter record.

Sources: VoteTexas.gov, Identification Requirements for Voting; VoteTexas.gov FAQ

No photo ID? If you don't have one and can't reasonably get one (for example, no ride, your work schedule, or no birth certificate), you can still vote. Bring a supporting ID, like your voter card, a utility bill, a bank statement, a government check, or a paycheck, and sign a form called a Reasonable Impediment Declaration at the polls.

Source: VoteTexas.gov, Identification Requirements for Voting

Free photo ID for voting: DPS gives out an Election Identification Certificate (EIC) at no charge to eligible voters who don't already have one of the photo IDs above. You'll need an appointment at a driver license office, and papers that show your citizenship and identity. (Texas DPS, Election Identification Certificate)

In jail right now, or have a misdemeanor?

Texas law only takes away the vote for a final felony conviction. It does not say anything about losing your vote for a misdemeanor. (Election Code §11.002)

That means many people in jail may still be able to vote. Texas law lets a registered, eligible voter in jail vote by mail if they are:

  • serving a misdemeanor sentence that ends on or after Election Day;
  • waiting for trial after being denied bail;
  • held without bail while appealing a felony conviction; or
  • waiting for trial or appeal, and unlikely to get out on bail before Election Day.

Source: Texas Election Code §82.004

To vote by mail, you first send an Application for Ballot by Mail to the early voting clerk. For the November 3, 2026 election, the clerk must receive it by October 23, 2026. (VoteTexas.gov FAQ; Secretary of State, Ballot by Mail) In Harris County, elections (including ballots by mail) are run by the Harris County Clerk's Office Elections Department.

Remember: you still have to be registered by the deadline. Being in jail doesn't change that.

What about fines, fees, or restitution?

Here is what we found, honestly:

  • The Texas law on voting lists finishing incarceration, parole, supervision, or probation, or getting a pardon. It does not list paying fines, court fees, or restitution as a separate step. (Election Code §11.002)
  • But we could not find an official Texas page that clearly says whether money you still owe can affect whether your sentence is "fully discharged."

If you still owe money on a felony case, please don't guess. Before you register, call the Texas Secretary of State Elections Division at 1-800-252-VOTE (8683), your county voter registrar, or a free legal aid office and ask about your case.

Common myths

  • Myth"Once you have a felony, you can never vote again in Texas."

    FactYour right to vote comes back once your whole sentence is done, or after a pardon. (§11.002)

  • Myth"I have to apply to a judge or the governor to get my vote back."

    FactIn Texas, it comes back on its own when your sentence is done. You just register again. (Texas Secretary of State)

  • Myth"I have to wait years after I finish my sentence."

    FactYou are "immediately eligible to register" once your punishment is complete. (Texas Secretary of State)

  • Myth"A misdemeanor takes away your vote."

    FactTexas law only takes the vote away for a final felony conviction. People in jail for a misdemeanor can even vote by mail. (§11.002; §82.004)

  • Myth"If you're in jail waiting for trial, you can't vote."

    FactBeing charged is not a final conviction. If you are registered, you may be able to vote by mail from jail. (Texas Secretary of State; §82.004)

  • Myth"Deferred adjudication means I can't vote."

    FactUnder Texas election law, deferred adjudication is not a final conviction. (§11.002(b))

  • Myth"My vote came back, so I'm already on the voter list."

    FactYou need to be registered. Check with "Am I Registered?" and register again if needed. (VoteTexas.gov)

Questions people ask

I'm still on parole or probation. Can I vote?

Not yet, if it's for a felony conviction. Texas law says you can register once parole, supervision, or probation is complete. (§11.002; VoteTexas.gov FAQ)

I finished my sentence. When can I register?

Right away. The Secretary of State says you are "immediately eligible to register." Your registration takes effect on the 30th day after you submit your form. (Texas Secretary of State; §13.143)

Does getting my vote back also let me serve on a jury or run for office?

No, those rules are different. The Secretary of State explains that the right to serve on a jury, or to run for most public offices, does not come back automatically the way voting does. (Texas Secretary of State)

What if I moved to a new county?

You register in the county where you live now. Your form goes to that county's voter registrar. (§13.001; county registrar list)

I don't have a home address. Can I still register?

Texas law lets you give the address where you get mail, plus a short description of where you live, if your home has no address. (§13.002(c)(7)) Your county voter registrar can help you fill it out.

What information goes on the registration form?

Your name, date of birth, and address. You also give your Texas driver license or DPS ID number. If you don't have one, you give the last 4 digits of your Social Security number. If you have neither, you say so on the form. (§13.002(c))

Is it a crime to lie on the form?

Yes. Knowingly giving false information on a voter registration form is a crime in Texas. That's why it's worth making sure your sentence is fully done before you sign. If you're not sure, ask first. (§13.007)

Can someone help me fill out the form?

Yes. Your county voter registrar's office can answer questions. In Harris County, call 713-274-VOTE (8683). Statewide, call 1-800-252-VOTE (8683). (Harris County Tax Office; VoteTexas.gov)

Where to get free help

These are official offices. Calling is free and they can answer questions about your situation.

Other states

Every state has its own rules. In some states you never lose the right to vote. In others it comes back when you leave prison, and in some you have to take extra steps. If you live outside Texas, check these:

Then confirm with your own state's election office, since laws change.

Sources

We used only official sources. All were checked on October 11, 2026.

  1. Texas Election Code, Chapter 11 (§11.002, Qualified voter)
  2. Texas Election Code, Chapter 13 (§§13.001, 13.002, 13.007, 13.074–13.079, 13.143)
  3. Texas Election Code, Chapter 82 (§82.004, Confinement in jail)
  4. Texas Secretary of State: Effect of Felony Conviction on Voter Registration
  5. VoteTexas.gov (Texas Secretary of State): Frequently Asked Questions
  6. VoteTexas.gov: Register to Vote
  7. VoteTexas.gov: Eligibility for Registration
  8. VoteTexas.gov: Identification Requirements for Voting
  9. Texas Secretary of State: Request for Voter Registration Applications
  10. Texas Secretary of State: Request for Application for Ballot by Mail
  11. Texas Secretary of State: County Voter Registrars
  12. Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector & Voter Registrar: Register to Vote
  13. Harris County Clerk's Office Elections Department (HarrisVotes.com)
  14. Texas Department of Public Safety: Election Identification Certificate
  15. Texas State Law Library: Can a person convicted of a felony vote in Texas?
  16. NCSL: Restoration of Voting Rights for Felons
  17. National Association of Secretaries of State: Can I Vote?

Not legal advice. This guide is general information to help you get started. It is not legal advice, and it doesn't create a lawyer-client relationship. What Would Jesus Prompt? is not a government office and does not take sides on candidates, parties, or issues. Always confirm with the official sources above. Last checked: October 11, 2026.

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