Most Texas elections are decided in the primary, where all voters can participate but only a tiny number of them do.
Primary elections are when Democrats and Republicans choose their nominees for November, and it’s coming up quickly on March 3. The deadline to register to vote is Tuesday, Feb. 3.
Voters don’t have to be registered with a party to cast a ballot in the primary. But they can only choose one party’s ticket when they enter the voting booth — meaning they’re either selecting the candidates Republicans put forward for the general election, or they’re deciding who Democrats nominate.
Third party groups choose their candidates differently and don’t have a ballot to select in the March 3 primary. For example, Libertarians name their nominees at a party convention, and those candidates later appear alongside Republican and Democratic nominees on the general election ballot in November.
Independent candidates collect signatures to qualify for the general election ballot after the primary is over.
Early voting starts Feb. 17 for the March primary — featuring an exciting Bexar County Judge showdown between two Democrats, as well as heated contests for both Republicans’ and Democrats’ angling to be their party’s nominee for U.S. Senate and Congress.
Here’s everything you need to know.
Do you have to register with a party to vote in the primary?
Despite Republicans’ best efforts to limit who participates in their primary elections, Texas voters are still free to cast a ballot in either the Republican or Democratic primary, regardless of their party affiliation.
Both parties’ voters use the same polling locations, operated by the county elections department. Election officials will simply ask which party’s ballot you’d like before entering the voting booth.
However, voters who participate in the first round of the primary must continue using the same party’s ballot if they want to vote in the May 26 primary runoff — a second round of voting caused when a race doesn’t have a candidate take at least 50% of the vote in March.
Runoffs are likely in contests with many candidates, such as the Republican U.S. Senate primary, where U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) faces two GOP challengers spending big money to take him on. Public polling shows none of the candidates approaching the 50% threshold in the first round of voting.
Democrats could also see runoffs in crowded primary contests, like the field of eight candidates seeking their party’s nomination to replace retiring District Attorney Joe Gonzales.
The San Antonio Report will have an all-encompassing voter guide explaining all the races on your primary ballot before early voting begins.
Key dates to know for the March 3 primary
- Feb. 2: Last day to register to vote for the March primary
- Feb. 20: Last day to apply for a mail ballot
- Feb. 17 – 27: Early voting for the primary
- March 3: Texas primary election
When is the primary runoff in Texas?
In any race where no candidate receives at least 50% of the vote in the March 3 primary election, the top two vote takers will advance to a May 26 primary runoff to determine the winner.
Remember, you don’t have to vote in the primary to participate in the runoff. But if you did cast a ballot in the primary, you’re only eligible to vote in that same party’s runoff election.
Key dates to note for the primary runoff:
- April 27: Last day to register to vote in the May primary runoff
- May 18 – May 22: Early voting for the primary runoff
- May 26: Texas primary runoff election
