Harris County residents displaced by Hurricane Harvey are being urged by officials to vote early in November's election.
"The impact of Hurricane Harvey to South Texas has been huge, and while we are recovering, please realize that government needs your participation in this election. The pulling together of neighbors helping neighbors has been truly inspiring. Please join your neighbors as we meet at your neighborhood early voting location," Harris County Clerk Stan Stanart said.
Why should residents vote early?
According to Stanart, "The best option to vote in the upcoming Nov. 7 election is during the early voting period. This is especially true for voters who have been impacted by the recent catastrophic flooding."Â
Who can vote early?
Stanart said besides the in-person early voting period, Texas election law also provides other early voting options for eligible voters, including displaced voters. Here's who is eligible:
- Displaced voters within the county who are 65 years of age or disabled may request to vote via mail by submitting an application to the County Clerk’s office. Mail ballot requests must be received by the county clerk no later than Oct. 27. Â
- Displaced voters relocated outside of their home county may also request a ballot by mail from the early voting clerk of their home county. On the application, the voter must indicate that they will be out of their home county during the early voting period and on Election Day. Voters need to provide a mailing address for the ballot which is outside of their home county. Mail ballot requests must be received by the county clerk no later than Oct. 27.
- Displaced voters relocated outside of their home county may also choose to vote a limited ballot at the main early voting polling place in their new county during the early voting period. Voters should be aware that voting a limited ballot in the new county has the effect of registering the voter in the new county.Â
VIDEO: Officials urge displaced residents to vote early
How do I vote early?
If you're already registered to vote and living in the same county in which you're registered, then you can find early voting locations for Harris County here. For voters who relocated to a new county, the voter registration application must be submitted to the voter registrar in the new county no later than Oct. 10
When is the early voting period?
The early voting by personal appearance for this election begins Oct. 23 and ends Nov. 3.Â
Where are the early voting locations?
There will be 45 early voting sites across Harris County. To find polling locations for Early Voting and Election Day, a sample ballot, a list of acceptable identification to vote at the poll and other election information, visit HarrisVotes.com, or call 713-755-6965.
The County Clerk and Clear Channel Outdoor will partner and use billboards -- in four languages, English, Spanish, Vietnamese and Chinese -- to promote election dates throughout the county.
