Can I Register As An Independent In Texas

To: Canton Clerks/Ballot Administrators and County Chairs From: Keith Ingram, Managing director of Elections
Keith Ingram's signature

Appointment: March 13, 2018

RE:

Party Affiliation Questions and Answers

This informational provides answers to some commonly asked questions related to party affiliation, voting in the master ballot, and candidacy in the primary elections. If yous take additional questions related to affiliation, please contact the Secretary of State at 1-800-252-VOTE (8683).

All references are to the Texas Election Code (unless otherwise cited).

How does party affiliation work in Texas?

In Texas, in that location are ii main ways for a voter to affiliate with a party: by being accepted to vote in a party's primary election or by taking an oath of affiliation with a party. (§§162.003, 162.006). A voter'southward affiliation with a party automatically expires at the end of each agenda year, which is December 31. (§162.010). A voter who has affiliated themselves with a party is unable to participate in the party affairs of a party other than the party that they have affiliated themselves with. (§§162.012, 162.013)

If a voter has not voted in a party primary or taken an oath of affiliation with a party this calendar twelvemonth, they have not however affiliated with any party. If a voter has not still affiliated with a party, they are able to vote in either political party's primary election. However, if a voter votes in the master of ane party, they will only be able to vote in that party's main runoff election. (§§162.012, 162.013) After being affiliated with a party, a voter is non able to modify or end your party affiliation until the terminate of the calendar year. (§162.010)

Exercise I have to register or chapter with a party before I vote in the primary?

No. A registered voter is not required to pre-register or have any steps towards affiliating themselves with a party before voting in a party'southward primary election. (§162.003) Additionally, when a person registers to vote in Texas, they do not register with any kind of party affiliation.

Does a voter have to vote in the primary ballot in social club to vote in a runoff election?

No. Section 11.001 of the Texas Election Code prescribes the specific qualifications necessary in guild to vote in a Texas election. In that location is no requirement to take previously voted in the main election in society to participate in the subsequent run-off election.

If I have voted for one party in the past, do I take vote in the same party's chief this year?

No. A voter'south party affiliation ends at the end of each calendar year. Affiliation with a party in a prior twelvemonth does not affect what primary an unaffiliated voter can vote in this year. (§162.010)

How can I change my party amalgamation?

After affiliating with a political party past voting in a party'due south primary or by taking an oath of amalgamation with a political party, a voter cannot change their party affiliation during the agenda year. (§162.010)

What if I signed a petition for a candidate for a place on the primary ballot?

If a voter signed a candidate's petition for a identify on the primary ballot, that voter is only able to vote in the chief of that candidate's political party. For example, if a voter signed a Democratic candidate's petition, that voter is unable to vote in the Republican primary, and vice versa. (§172.026)

If I am non going to be xviii in time for the primary or chief runoff, but volition exist 18 by the time of the general ballot, can I vote in the main?

No. A voter must have an effective registration on or before election day in guild to vote in that election. (§11.001). In Texas, the earliest a voter can submit a voter registration awarding is when they are 17 years and ten months old. (§xiii.001). However, this awarding is non effective until a voter'south 18th birthday. If a voter is not 18 on or before election day, their voter registration will non be effective prior to ballot day and they will not exist able to vote in that election. However, a voter who turns xviii between primary election twenty-four hours, March 6, 2018, and principal runoff ballot day, May 22, 2018, can register to vote and vote in the May 22, 2018 chief runoff election.

I voted in the Master Election on March six, 2018. Why did they enquire if I wanted a Republican or Democratic ballot? Why did I have to indicate party preference on my Application for a Ballot by Mail (ABBM)?

The master elections are two dissever elections that occur on the same day. Both the Republican and Autonomous parties are selecting their nominees for the general election in Nov. When a voter votes in a primary election or master runoff ballot, they are affiliating with the party whose primary they are voting in. (§162.003). A voter who is affiliated with a political political party is ineligible to go affiliated with another party during the same voting yr. (§162.012). This means a voter cannot vote in both chief elections, or the primary election of ane political party and the runoff ballot of another party. Some counties will have joint primaries and/or the parties will share polling places. In a county where the Republican and Democratic parties are sharing polling places, the vote must identify what primary they would like to vote in order to ensure they receive the correct ballot and are marked as voting in the right principal election.

Since a voter cannot participate in both party main elections, when voting by mail, a voter must bespeak their party preference to ensure they receive the correct ballot style.

Can I vote in i party'southward primary election and another party'south primary runoff election?

No. By voting in a party'southward primary election, a voter has affiliated themselves with that party and is unable to participate in the convention or runoff election of another party during that calendar year. (§§162.012, 162.013)

If I vote in a party'south master, am I required to vote for that party's candidates in the November 6, 2018 general election?

No. A voter who votes in the chief is not required to vote for a item party's candidates in the succeeding general election.

What if I consider myself an contained, but wish to vote in a primary election?

The act of voting in a primary election affiliates a voter with a political party. §162.003). Withal, if a voter has non otherwise affiliated themselves with a party, they are able to vote in the principal of either party.

Candidacy Affiliation Questions

I was a candidate in the primary election and I lost my race. Can I run as an Independent Candidate in November?

No. A person that was a candidate for nomination in a principal ballot is ineligible for a place on the ballot for the next general ballot for land and county officers every bit an independent candidate for any role that had candidates in the primary election. (§162.015(a)).

I was a candidate in the master election and I lost my race. Can I run equally a write-in candidate in Nov?

A person that was a candidate for nomination for the primary election cannot run as a write-in candidate for the same office in the full general ballot in Nov. However, the candidate could run every bit a write-in candidate for a dissimilar office. (§ 162.015(b)).