Elections and Voter Information

Voter Information

Qualifications for Office

Public Office Sought in 2010
 U.S. Citizen Texas
Resident		 District
Resident		 Registered
to Vote
in Texas		 Age Practicing
Lawyer or
Judge		 Sourcee Term of Office
United States Representative
7 yrs.
Yes a
not req'd
-
25 b
-
I § 2
2 yrs.
Governor
Yes
5 yrs.b
-
-
30 d
-
IV § 4
4 yrs.
Lieutenant Governor
Yes
5 yrs.b
-
-
30 d
-
IV § 16
4 yrs.
Attorney General
Yes
12 mo.c
-
-
18 d
not req’d
IV § 22
4 yrs.
Comptroller of Public Accounts
Yes
12 mo.c
-
-
18 d
-
IV § 23
4 yrs.
Commissioner of General Land Office
Yes
12 mo.c
-
-
18 d
-
IV § 23
4 yrs.
Commissioner of Agriculture
Yes
12 mo.c
-
-
18 d
-
IV § 23
4 yrs.
Railroad Commissioner
Yes
Yes a
-
Yes
25 d
-
art. 6447
6 yrs.
Justice, Supreme Court
Yes
Yes a
-
-
35 b
10 yrs. b
V § 2
6 yrs.
Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals
Yes
Yes a
-
-
35 b
10 yrs. b
V § 4
6 yrs.
State Senator
Yes
5 yrs.b
12 mo.b
-
26 b
-
III § 6
4 yrs.
State Representative
Yes
2 yrs.b
12 mo.b
-
21 b
-
III § 7
2 yrs.
Member, State Board of Education
Yes
12 mo.b
12 mo.b
Yes
26 d
-
§ 7.103
4 yrs.
Chief Justice and Justice,
Court of Appeals
Yes
Yes a
Yes a
-
35 b 
10 yrs. b
V § 6
6 yrs.
District Judge
Yes
2 yrs.b
2 yrs.b
-
25 d
4 yrs. b
V § 7,  § 24.001
4 yrs.
Criminal District Judge
Yes
2 yrs.b
2 yrs.b
-
25 d
4 yrs. b
V § 7,  § 24.001
4 yrs.
Family District Judge
Yes
2 yrs.b
2 yrs.b
-
25 d
4 yrs. b
V § 7,  § 24.001
4 yrs.
Criminal District Attorney f
Yes
Yes f
Yes f
-
18 d
Yes
V § 30,  § 41.001
4 yrs.
County Judge
Yes
12 mo.c
6 mo.c
-
18d
not req’d
V § 15
4 yrs.
Judge, County Court-at-Law
Yes
Yes f
Yes f
-
25 d
Yes f
V § 30, § 25.0014
4 yrs.
Judge, County Criminal Ct.
Yes
Yes f
Yes f
-
25 d
Yes f
V § 30, § 25.0014
4 yrs.
Judge, County Probate Ct.
Yes
Yes f
Yes f
-
25 d
Yes f
V § 30, § 25.0014
4 yrs.
District Clerk
Yes
12 mo.c
6 mo.c
-
18 d
-
V § 9
4 yrs.
District & County Clerk
Yes
12 mo.c
6 mo.c
-
18 d
-
V § 20
4 yrs.
County Clerk
Yes
12 mo.c
6 mo.c
-
18 d
-
V § 20
4 yrs.
County Treasurer
Yes
12 mo.c
6 mo.c
-
18 d
-
XVI § 44
4 yrs.
County Surveyor
Yes
12 mo.c
6 mo.c
-
18 d
-
XVI § 44
4 yrs.
County Commissioner
Yes
12 mo.c
6 mo.c
-
18 d
-
V § 18
4 yrs.
Justice of the Peace
Yes
12 mo.c
6 mo.c
-
18 d
-
V § 18
4 yrs.
  1. No duration specified.
  2. Before date of general election.
  3. Before January 4, 2010, if candidate for Democratic or Republican Party Nomination. Before March 13, 2010, if other party nominee for precinct, county, or single-county district office. Before March 20, 2010, if other party nominee for multi-county district office. Before June 12, 2010, if other party nominee for statewide office. Before May 13, 2010, if independent candidate. Before November 2, 2010, if write-in candidate.
  4. On first day of term to be filled at election.
  5. Citations refer to article and section number of the U.S. Const. for U.S. Rep.; section number of the Tex. Educ. Code Ann. for Member, State Board of Education; section number of the civil statutes for Railroad Commissioner; section number of the Tex. Gov’t Code Ann. for district and county attorney, district and criminal district judge, and county court at law judge; article and section number of the Tex. Const. for all others. Also see § 141.001 of the Tex. Elec. Code Ann.
  6. Statutory qualifications may vary; contact your local party chair or the Secretary of State.

Special Note 1: Please be advised that due to the removal of the staggering schedule from Article XVI, Section 65 of the Texas Constitution, there are various local offices which may have been created by your county commissioners court but are not listed in this guide. For further information on filing for county office not listed, please contact the county clerk’s office or the office of the Secretary of State.

Special Note 2: Please be advised that executive and judicial officers elected in a statewide election, state appellate and district judges, members of the State Board of Education, and district or criminal district attorneys (among others) are subject to the provisions of Chapter 572 of the Texas Government Code Ann., which relates to personal financial disclosure, standards of conduct, and conflicts of interest issues. For further information on the applicability and requirements of Chapter 572, candidates should contact the Texas Ethics Commission.