Everyone who qualifies for a mail ballot should take advantage of the opportunity to use one to vote. To qualify for a mail ballot you must be either: 

• 65 years or older; or

• Sick or disabled such that you can’t vote without requiring assistance or risking your health; or

• Out of the county on Election Day and during the period for early voting by personal appearance; or

• Expected to give birth within three weeks before or after Election Day; or

• Are confined in jail, but otherwise eligible.

Those over 65 or disabled can even make an annual request for Ballots by Mail to have ballots for all the elections in the year automatically sent to them. Here’s the benefits of voting at home: 

1) The voter can study the ballot and look into the candidates at their leisure in privacy and security before voting. Citizens are less susceptible to pressure and intimidation voting at home. 2) No standing in line to sign in. 

3) Reduced exposure to viral infections like colds, COVID or flu in the community.

4) The voter can track their ballot as it goes through the mail to be assured it was received.

5) If the voter provides a phone number and then has an error in submitting their ballot, the election offices can contact them to correct the error in time before Election Day. There is a voter-verified paper trail for every ballot and a tracking system to follow ballots as they are sent out and received.

How do you get an application for a ballot by mail?

1) You can call your local election office (Brewster [432] 837-6230, Presidio [432] 729-4812 and Jeff Davis [432] 426-3251) and request an application (the voter can only request an application for themselves, not for other persons); or

2) You can go to the Secretary of State website https://www.votetexas.gov/voting-by-mail/index.html where you can get the form in a printable pdf format or fill out one to print online.

Where do you send your application for a ballot by mail? 

In Brewster County send it to Lora Nussbaum, Brewster County Early Voting Clerk, 107 West Avenue E #3, Alpine TX 79830-4618. In Presidio County send it to Florcita Zubia, County Clerk P.O. Box 789, Marfa TX 79843. In Jeff Davis County send it to Jennifer Wright, County Clerk PO Box 398, Fort Davis TX 79734. Don’t forget the stamp! Very important!

1) Fill in the part of the application regarding identification with BOTH your TX driver’s license number or TX personal identification number AND the last 4 digits of your social security number. If the form you are using doesn’t have these spaces, it’s old and should not be used. This is a new requirement and failure to fill in this part has resulted in hundreds of applications being sent back for correction.

2) Provide your signature in the space provided.

3) To get a ballot for the November 5 General Election the application must be received by the early voting clerk by October 25, 2024.

4) If you are not registered to vote you need to register before you submit your request for a ballot. In order to vote in the General Election register before October 7, 2024.

In some states and countries all voting is by mail, and in other jurisdictions voters can opt to vote by mail or in person as they wish. It’s a popular way to vote. So if you’re eligible, in 2024 stay safe and secure and vote at home!

Tri-County Voter Promoters will be registering voters in Brewster, Presidio and Jeff Davis counties until the October 7, 2024, deadline. For help in getting registered or to help register voters, please contact Roy Morey at (432) 426-0122 or at remorey@bigbend.net. The Secretary of State voter registration site is www.votetexas.gov/register-to-vote/.

Tri-county Voter Promoters is a non-partisan, voluntary organization assisting citizens in Brewster, Jeff Davis and Presidio counties register to vote and participate in elections.