How to Register to Vote by Mail
How to Register to Vote by Mail in Bexar County
Registering by mail is the most common way Texans add themselves to the voter rolls. It’s free, the state form is postage-paid, and you can do it entirely from home — no appointment, no DPS visit, no line. This page walks you through every step, every field on the form, and the most common mistakes that get applications rejected.
Next Registration Deadline
Monday, April 27, 2026
Your form must be postmarked or received by April 27 to vote in the May 26, 2026 Primary Runoff Election. Mail early — USPS delivery can take several days.
This page is for you if…
- You don’t want to (or can’t) visit a registration location in person.
- You’re helping a family member — a parent, spouse, or kid about to turn 18 — register.
- You live far from a DPS office or public library.
- You prefer paper over digital paperwork.
- You recently moved and need to update your registration.
Registering by mail, in 7 steps
Most people finish the whole process in about 15 minutes. Start-to-finish timing depends mostly on the mail.
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Confirm you’re eligible
You must be a U.S. citizen, a Bexar County resident, at least 17 years and 10 months old (and 18 by Election Day), not currently serving a felony sentence, and not declared mentally incapacitated by a court. See the full eligibility checklist.
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Get the official Texas registration form
Only the official Texas form is accepted. Do not use photocopies of a copy or anything altered. Three ways to get it: download and print, request one by mail, or pick one up at a local location. Details in the next section.
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Fill it out in blue or black ink
Write neatly and legibly. Use all capital letters if your handwriting is hard to read. Every required field must be complete — one missing field is the #1 reason applications get rejected.
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Sign and date the form
Sign with a pen, by hand. Electronic signatures, typed names, and photocopies of signatures are not accepted. If you’re helping someone else, they must sign their own form — you cannot sign on their behalf.
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Fold, seal, and mail it
The official Texas form is designed to fold into its own postage-paid envelope — no stamp required. If you’re using a form that isn’t the prefold version, put it in a regular envelope and add a First-Class stamp. Mailing address is in the “Where to Mail It” section.
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Keep your receipt stub
The state form has a tear-off receipt stub at the bottom. Detach it and keep it somewhere safe until your voter registration card arrives. It’s proof of when you submitted, which matters if there’s ever a question about timing.
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Watch for your orange voter card
Within about 30 days, you’ll receive an orange Voter Registration Certificate from the Bexar County Elections Department. It lists your name, address, precinct, and Voter Unique Identifier (VUID). You don’t need to bring it when you vote — but keep it.
Three ways to get the form
All three paths give you the same official form. Pick whichever works for your setup.
Download & print
Fastest option if you have a printer. The official form is a single PDF. Print in black-and-white on plain paper — do not shrink to fit. It must be actual size.
English PDF Español (PDF)Have one mailed to you
No printer? The Texas Secretary of State will mail you a form for free. You can also call or email the Bexar County Elections Department and request one be sent to your address.
Call SOS: 1-800-252-VOTE Call Bexar: 210-335-VOTEPick one up locally
Most post offices, every Bexar County library branch, DPS offices, and Texas Health & Human Services offices keep stacks of forms. Just ask at the counter.
Library Locations All LocationsWhere to mail your form
Mail the completed form to the Bexar County Elections Department. The official Texas form is postage-paid — you don’t need a stamp.
Mail To
Bexar County Elections Department1103 S. Frio Street, Suite 100
San Antonio, TX 78207
USPS First-Class mail is fine. Tracking and certified mail are optional — use them if you want confirmation.
Or drop off in person
You can also hand-deliver your form to the Elections Department during business hours.
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Hand-delivery is a good option on the day of the deadline.
The 7 most common mistakes that delay or reject applications
The Elections Department will try to reach you if something is wrong — but only if they can. Most rejections come from these issues. Double-check before sealing the envelope.
Missing signature
The #1 reason forms bounce back. The form must be signed by hand, in pen, by the applicant themselves.
✓ Fix: Sign before you seal. If you’re mailing it for someone else, confirm they signed it.Unchecked citizenship box
This is not a “skip it if obvious” field. It’s a legal attestation, and the form is invalid without it.
✓ Fix: Make sure the citizenship box (field 11) is clearly marked.P.O. box listed as residence
The residence field is for your actual physical address. A P.O. box there will trigger a rejection — even if your mailing address is a P.O. box, the residence line needs a real location.
✓ Fix: Use a street address or a description of where you usually stay in the residence field. Put the P.O. box in the mailing address field.No ID number — and “no ID” box not checked
If you don’t have a Texas DL/ID and don’t have an SSN, you need to affirmatively check the box that says you have neither. Leaving all three blank reads as incomplete.
✓ Fix: Fill in one ID field, or check the “neither” box — one of the three.Illegible handwriting
If the Elections Department can’t read it, they can’t process it. Small, cursive, or rushed handwriting is a frequent issue.
✓ Fix: Use block letters. Write slowly. Have someone else read it back to you before mailing.Wrong or outdated form
A photocopied version of a photocopy, or a form from a third-party campaign with altered layouts, may not scan correctly.
✓ Fix: Use the current official state form from the Texas SOS.Mailed too late
Forms must be postmarked by the 30-day deadline. A form dropped in a mailbox on the morning of the deadline may not be postmarked until the next business day, depending on pickup times.
✓ Fix: Mail at least 7–10 days early. If you miss it, mail it anyway — you’ll be registered for the next election.Special scenarios
A few situations change what you put on the form. Here’s how to handle the most common ones.
🎓 College student living on campus
Use your dorm or campus address as your residence. A P.O. box or mail services address can go in the mailing address line if your dorm doesn’t receive USPS mail directly.
🏠 Currently experiencing homelessness
You don’t need a traditional address. In the residence field, describe where you usually stay — a shelter name, intersection, or landmark. Use a mailing address where you can reliably receive your voter card (friend, shelter, case worker, P.O. box).
🏡 Recently moved within Bexar County
You don’t have to start over — this is technically an update, not a new registration. Fill out the form with your new address and include your previous address in field 10.
🇸🇳 Recently moved to Texas from another state
You need to register fresh. Leave the “previous address” field blank. Your 30-day registration clock starts the day your form is received in Bexar County.
👥 Name change (marriage, divorce, legal)
Put your new name in the name field and your former name in field 9. Include documentation only if specifically requested — most name changes go through on the form alone.
💵 No Texas driver’s license or ID
Use the last 4 digits of your Social Security number instead. If you have neither a TX DL/ID nor an SSN, check the box that says so — and the county will still process your form.
🏡 Older adult in a nursing home or assisted living
Your residence is the facility’s address. Your mailing address can be the same, or a family member who helps manage your mail. Facility staff often help with registration on request.
⚔️ Active-duty military or overseas
Do not use this form. Use the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) instead — it registers you and requests a ballot in one step. See our Military Voting page.
Helping someone else register by mail
You can help — here’s what’s allowed.
It’s completely legal to help a family member, friend, neighbor, or coworker fill out their registration form. You can explain fields, write down their answers (if they tell you what to write), and drop the envelope in the mailbox for them.
A few limits: they must sign their own form. You cannot sign for them, even with permission. If you regularly collect completed forms from others (for example, at events), Texas law requires you to become a certified Volunteer Deputy Registrar (VDR). Training is free and takes about 90 minutes. Without VDR certification, you can still help family members one-on-one — you just can’t run an organized drive.
Learn about becoming a VDR if you want to help at scale.
After you mail your form
Here’s a realistic timeline of what happens next:
Day 1–7
Your form is delivered to the Elections Department and date-stamped on arrival.
Day 7–21
Your application is reviewed and entered. If something is unclear or missing, they’ll contact you by mail or phone.
Day 21–30
Your orange Voter Registration Certificate is mailed to you.
Haven’t heard anything after 30 days? Check your status at the Texas “Am I Registered?” portal, or call 210-335-VOTE. If your form was rejected, you can usually fix the issue and resubmit in the same cycle.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my mailed application was received?
Check the Texas “Am I Registered?” portal. Your record will show up once your application is processed — typically within 1–3 weeks. You can also call the Bexar County Elections Department at 210-335-VOTE.
Can I register online instead?
Not for new registrations. Texas does not currently offer full online voter registration. You can update an existing registration online through Texas.gov when renewing your driver’s license, but a new registration must be a signed paper form.
Do I need a stamp?
Usually no. The official Texas state form (the one with the tear-off receipt stub) is designed to fold into its own pre-paid return envelope — the postage is already covered. If you’re mailing a form that doesn’t have pre-paid postage, use a First-Class stamp.
Can I register the entire family with one form?
No. Each person needs their own form with their own signature. But you can mail multiple forms in the same envelope to save paper — just make sure each form is complete.
What if my handwriting is really bad?
Use block letters (capital letters, one per box where possible) and write slowly. If you’re worried, have someone else read your form back to you before you mail it. If a field is genuinely unreadable, the Elections Department may call you to clarify — which is why including a phone number (optional field 8) helps.
Can I mail my form from out of state?
Yes, as long as you are a Bexar County resident. Your form can be postmarked from anywhere — what matters is your residence address on the form and the postmark date. College students, long-distance caregivers, and travelers often register this way.
What if I missed the 30-day deadline?
Mail it anyway. Your registration will be processed for the next election after the one you missed. Don’t wait — the sooner you submit, the sooner you’re in the rolls for every future election.
I filled out the form wrong — can I just mail a new one?
Yes. Fill out a fresh, corrected form and mail it in. When the Elections Department sees duplicate submissions from the same person, they use the most recent one.
Can I track my form in the mail?
Only if you pay for USPS Certified Mail or Tracking. Most people mail it regular First-Class and check the “Am I Registered?” portal a week or two later to confirm it was processed.
What if the Elections Department rejects my form?
They’ll send you a letter explaining what was wrong. In most cases you can correct the issue and resubmit a new form. If you’re close to the deadline, call immediately — sometimes fixes can be made over the phone.
Still have questions?
The Bexar County Elections Department is the official source for all Bexar County registration questions. They can answer specific questions about your form, your address, or your status.