By Rebekah Chenelle, Senior Vice President, Public Policy
Estimated reading time: 1.5 minutes
Primary election season is around the corner, and some major election changes are coming to North Texas counties.
Key dates to mark
Early voting for the March primary election begins Tuesday, Feb. 17, and runs through Friday, Feb. 27, with Primary Election Day on Tuesday, March 3. To vote in any Texas election, voters must be registered at least 30 days before Election Day.
Miss the primary? There are more opportunities to vote
If a voter is not registered in time for the primary election, there will be additional chances to participate later this year — during the Tuesday, May 26, runoff election and the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Why the March primary matters
The March primary elections will determine party nominees for several major statewide offices, including governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and comptroller, as well as seats in Congress, the Texas Legislature, the State Board of Education and locally elected officials.
How Texas’ open primary system works
Texas uses an open primary system, meaning voters can choose which party’s primary to participate in — Republican or Democratic. However, if a runoff election is required, voters must vote in the runoff for the same party whose primary they selected. In the general election, voters are free to choose candidates from either party, regardless of how they voted in the primary.
Voting is one of the most direct ways Texans can shape the future of their communities, the state and the country. Clear, accessible information helps voters plan ahead with confidence. Find everything you need to prepare for Election Day in the DRC’s North Texas Voter Resources.