LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF HOUSTON EDUCATION FUND
Made possible in part by the League of Women Voters® Education Fund
PREPARE NOW FOR VOTER PHOTO ID
Prepare now to take a current photo ID with you to vote in the March 2012 primaries. Under the new Voter ID law, acceptable IDs include
- a Texas drivers’ license
- a Texas identification card
- an election identification certificate
- a military identification card
- a U.S. Citizenship certificate with a picture
- a U.S. Passport
- a concealed handgun license
No other type of picture ID (such as a student ID) is acceptable. The name on the ID should match the name used to register to vote.
VOTER ID LAW
The Texas photo voter ID law is not enforceable until it clears Voting Rights Act procedures. The law does not change how Texans vote by mail. Only those who vote in person will need a photo ID.
LEAGUE PRESENTATIONS AND WORKSHOPS
To schedule a League volunteer to give a presentation on the Voter ID law or to assist in setting up a birth certificate workshop, email voter id. Other information about the new law is available at the LWV Texas website.
ELECTION IDENTIFICATION CERTIFICATE
You can get a free election identification certificate at any DPS office after January 1, 2012. DPS plans to have applicants provide the same proof of identity required to get a Texas identification card. Most applicants will need an official birth record, plus two other documents DPS calls “supporting identification.” The Election Identification Certificate will not serve as identification for any purpose other than voting.
OFFICIAL BIRTH RECORD
Those born anywhere in Texas can get proof of their birth from the Houston Bureau of Vital Statistics, from the Harris County Clerk, or the State of Texas. The cost is $23 locally. The person seeking the birth record must take something that verifies identity. Immediate family members can apply for their relatives. Those born in another state must apply to that state. Locate state vital statistics offices by using the National Center for Health Statistics list.
TEXAS IDENTIFICATION CARD
You can get a Texas Identification Card at any DPS office; the Identification Card is issued by the state as a form of identification for those people who do not have a Texas drivers’ license. Most applicants will need an official birth record, plus two other documents DPS calls “supporting identification.” A Texas Identification Card can be used as identification for purposes other than voting and is useful in other areas of life. For those age 60 and above, the cost of the identification card is $6.00, and it does not expire. For those under age 60, the card application fee is $16.00, and it expires every six years.
OTHER DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED
To find out more about the documentation required for the Texas Identification Card and the Election Identification Certificate, go to Texas DPS.
Links for Voter ID Information
Download the
FAQs Info Sheet
To find a summary of Senate Bill 14
To find DPS proposed rules for election identification certificates
To find DPS instructions on applying for an Identification Card
Houston Bureau of Vital Statistics
Forms of ID to get birth records (pdf)
Harris County Clerk locations
Harris County Clerk form (pdf)
To order Texas birth records from Austin
50-state list of agencies to verify US births (pdf)
DOJ explains Voting Rights Act