VBM is a right! Same as voting in person but for those who are at least one of the following:
Seniors over 65+
OR
Serving in the military- age of 18+
OR
Out of the County during election (students too)- age of 18+
OR
In jail or prison without felony conviction- age of 18+
If you have a felony but off the books, you can vote
OR
Living with a disability-age of 18+
It is illegal for anyone to ask you to provide paperwork or to "prove" your disability. If this happens call the voter protection line.
Voting by mail is a right for everyone who decides they need to vote from home. Is that you? If you need or want to vote by mail please fill out the application and send it in as soon as possible. If you need more help, watch the video below I helped put together with the Young Democrats of Brazoria County and The Texas Democrats with Disabilities Caucus.
What you need to know. If the form is filled out properly NO ONE can deny you a VBM ballot. If you do not have access to a printer, you are able to write all of the information in a sheet of paper and mail that to the elections office. Voting is a constitutional right, and they can not deny your form. Please call or email your elections office if you need to take this step.
Harris County
Attn Elections County Clerk
1001 Preston Houston, TX 77002
Email: bbm@cco.hctx.net
Brazoria County
Attn Elections County Clerk
111 E. Locust, Ste 200, Angleton 77515
Email: cclerkelections@brazoria-county.com
Galveston County
Attn elections County Clerk
600 59th Street Galveston, TX 77551
Email: ernest.murrie@co.galveston.tx.us
What if someone asks me to prove or identify my disability? They should NOT do this. The definition of disability in the Texas Election Code is: “a sickness or physical condition that prevents the voter from appearing at the polling place on election day or early voting without a likelihood of needing personal assistance or of injuring the voters' health”.
ONLY YOU get to decide whether this applies to you. There is no space on your application to explain what kind(s) of disabilities you have, all you need to do is choose or write “disability”. By law, you do not have to tell anyone anything specific about your disability to be eligible to vote by mail, and by law, the county early voting clerk and their staff are not allowed to ask anyone to prove their disability.
If this happens, call Disability Rights Texas Voter Protection Hotline immediately: 1-888-796-8683.
If you are voting in person, please be as safe as possible. Wear a mask. Bring hand sanitizer. Practice social distancing. Wash your hands as soon as you are able too.