Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson Promotes Voter Education in El Paso County

EL PASO – Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson took her 2024 voter education tour to El Paso today. The voter education tour helps to ensure Texans know where to go for official voting information, including vote-by-mail requirements and the acceptable forms of photo ID voters can present at the polls.

“On the first day of early voting, I wanted to be in this important corner of the state to help make sure Texans are ready for the primary elections,” Secretary Jane Nelson said. “Thank you to El Paso Elections Administrator Lisa Wise for hosting me today and for the work she does to help make sure El Paso County elections run as smoothly as possible.”

Secretary Nelson and elections officials across Texas are alerting voters to requirements that have changed since the last presidential election.

For example, Texans voting by mail must provide one of the following numbers on their mail-in ballot application and the carrier envelope of their cast ballot:

• Texas Driver License
• Texas Personal Identification Card
• Election Identification Certificate
• OR the last 4 digits of their Social Security number

Texans who have not been issued one of these numbers must indicate so by checking the appropriate box on the application for ballot by mail or carrier envelope.

Texans are eligible to vote by mail if they are age 65 or older, sick or disabled, expect to give birth within three weeks of election day, or out of their county of registration through both the early voting period and election day.

Secretary Nelson highlighted other key information detailed at VoteTexas.gov, including the seven approved forms of photo ID Texans can use to vote in person:

• Texas Driver License
• Texas Personal Identification Card
• Passport
• Texas Handgun License
• Military Identification Card
• Citizenship Certificate
• Texas Election Identification Certificate

Voters who do not have and cannot reasonably obtain one of the seven approved forms of photo ID can fill out a Reasonable Impediment Declaration at the polls and present an alternative form of identification, such as a utility bill, bank statement, government check, or a voter registration certificate.

February 23 is the last day to apply for a ballot by mail, and early voting runs from February 20 through March 1. Election day is March 5.

Earlier in the day, Secretary Nelson chaired the Border Trade Advisory committee meeting in El Paso.

For more information on ID requirements and voting deadlines, please visit VoteTexas.gov for official information or call 1-800-252-VOTE.

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