Check Your Voter Registration, San Antonio: The 2-Minute Check to Do Before Early Voting Starts Monday

Early voting for the November 3 election starts Monday, October 19 in Bexar County — and this year, checking your registration before you go is not just a good idea. A registration backlog tied to the state’s online driver’s-license portal means some San Antonians who thought they registered may not show up the way they expect. The check takes about two minutes, and if something is off, there is usually a fix right at the polls. Here’s exactly what to do.

Early voting is open now — through Friday, Oct. 30

Early voting for the Nov. 3, 2026 general election runs Monday, Oct. 19 through Friday, Oct. 30. If you are registered in Bexar County, you can vote at any early voting site — more than 50 across the county — not just the one in your precinct. Pick the site closest to home, work, or your bus route.

Bexar County set a record for first-day early voting turnout in a non-presidential election this year, so lines can build up. Voting early — especially at off-peak hours — is the surest way to skip the Election Day rush.

Hours

• Oct. 19–23: 8 a.m.–6 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 24: 7 a.m.–7 p.m.
• Sunday, Oct. 25: 12 p.m.–6 p.m.
• Oct. 26–30: 7 a.m.–7 p.m.

Two branch sites — the Bexar County Justice Center (300 Dolorosa) and Valley Ranch Community Center — are weekdays only, 8 a.m.–6 p.m., and closed Oct. 24–25. The main early voting location is the Bexar County Elections Department, 1103 S. Frio St., San Antonio, TX 78207.

What to bring, and good to know

• Bring an approved photo ID.
• You may bring a printed voter guide into the booth; electronic devices are not allowed within 100 feet of the voting stations.
• If you are in line when the polls close, stay — you still get to vote.
• Mail ballots: the deadline to request one was Oct. 23 and has passed. If you already have a mail ballot, it must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 3.
• Getting there: VIA has offered fare-free “Ride VIA to Vote” rides on past election days, including the March 2026 primary, for riders showing a valid voter registration card. VIA has not announced its Nov. 3 plan yet — confirm before you count on it at viainfo.net or (210) 362-2020.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, 7 a.m.–7 p.m., also at any vote center in Bexar County.

One more deadline on the same calendar: health insurance open enrollment opens Nov. 1. While you are planning your week, take 60 seconds to check what benefits you may qualify for — or let our team build your personalized guide free through Apply for Me.

La votación anticipada ya está abierta — hasta el viernes 30 de octubre

La votación anticipada para la elección general del 3 de noviembre de 2026 es del lunes 19 al viernes 30 de octubre. Si está registrado en el condado de Bexar, puede votar en cualquier sitio de votación anticipada — más de 50 en todo el condado — no solo en el de su precinto. Elija el sitio más cercano a su casa, su trabajo o su ruta de autobús.

Horarios

• 19–23 de oct.: 8 a.m.–6 p.m.
• Sábado 24 de oct.: 7 a.m.–7 p.m.
• Domingo 25 de oct.: 12 p.m.–6 p.m.
• 26–30 de oct.: 7 a.m.–7 p.m.

Dos sitios — el Bexar County Justice Center (300 Dolorosa) y Valley Ranch Community Center — abren solo entre semana, 8 a.m.–6 p.m., y cierran el 24 y 25 de octubre. El sitio principal es el Departamento de Elecciones del Condado de Bexar, 1103 S. Frio St., San Antonio, TX 78207.

Qué traer y qué saber

• Traiga una identificación con foto aprobada.
• Puede llevar una guía impresa para votantes; no se permiten dispositivos electrónicos a menos de 100 pies de las estaciones de votación.
• Si está en la fila cuando cierran las urnas, quédese — igual podrá votar.
• Voto por correo: el plazo para solicitar una boleta fue el 23 de octubre y ya pasó. Si ya tiene su boleta, debe ser recibida antes de las 7 p.m. del día de la elección, el 3 de noviembre.
• Transporte: VIA ha ofrecido viajes gratis con “Ride VIA to Vote” en días de elección anteriores, incluida la primaria de marzo de 2026, mostrando una tarjeta de registro de votante válida. VIA aún no anuncia su plan para el 3 de noviembre — confírmelo antes de contar con ello en viainfo.net o al (210) 362-2020.

El día de la elección es el martes 3 de noviembre de 2026, de 7 a.m. a 7 p.m., también en cualquier centro de votación del condado de Bexar.

Otra fecha en el mismo calendario: la inscripción abierta de seguro médico comienza el 1 de noviembre. Mientras planifica su semana, tome 60 segundos para revisar los beneficios a los que podría calificar — o deje que nuestro equipo prepare su guía personalizada gratis con Apply for Me.

Step 1: Check your registration right now (2 minutes)

Go to VoteTexas.gov and open “Am I Registered?” You can look yourself up three ways:

• Your Voter Unique Identifier (VUID) — printed on your voter registration certificate
• Your Texas driver’s license number, if you gave it when you registered
• Your first and last name

No internet? Call Bexar County Elections at 210-335-VOTE (210-335-8683) and ask them to check your status. Write down exactly what your status says — active or suspense — because the steps below depend on it.

Why this year is different: the registration backlog

On October 9, the League of Women Voters of Texas and MOVE Texas sued the Texas Secretary of State and the Department of Public Safety in Bexar County, saying registrations submitted through the DPS online driver’s-license portal were not always transmitted to election officials — some delays reaching back to October 2025, including a period from December 2025 to February 2026 when, the lawsuit says, a vendor programming change blocked transmissions.

Be clear about what is proven and what is claimed:

• The ~593,000 registrations figure is the plaintiffs’ claim in the lawsuit — it is not a state count.
• The Secretary of State’s office said on October 15 that it knew of no county still waiting on backlogged applications.
• What is not in dispute: Bexar County received roughly 45,000 backlogged registrations from the state, and about 112,000 San Antonio voters were on the suspense list — one more reason the two-minute check matters this weekend.

If you renewed or changed your driver’s license online between October 2025 and February 2026 and registered to vote during that process, checking is especially important for you. If your check comes back showing no registration at all, call Bexar County Elections at 210-335-VOTE before you head to the polls — staff can look up your record and tell you your options. One honest deadline note: the registration deadline for this election was October 5, 2026, and Texas does not have same-day registration, so a registration that was never submitted can’t be created at the polls — but a registration that is on file, even in suspense, can almost always still vote. That’s the difference the check reveals.

If your status says “Suspense” — you can still vote

“Suspense” sounds worse than it is. Per the Texas Secretary of State: suspense means the registrar is not certain of your current residential address. It usually happens when your voter registration certificate, a jury summons, or other election mail was returned as undeliverable, or the registrar received information suggesting you may have moved. Your registration is not cancelled, and you are still eligible to vote. (If you never vote or update for two federal elections while on suspense, your name is then removed — another reason to vote this time.)

Here is the fix, straight from VoteTexas.gov:

• You still live in Bexar County: go vote. Before you cast your ballot, you’ll complete a short form called a Statement of Residence at the polls confirming your address. That’s it — then you vote a regular ballot.
• You moved within Bexar County: same fix — a Statement of Residence at the polls. On Election Day, VoteTexas advises voting at the precinct where you previously lived, with the Statement of Residence completed there.
• You moved to a different county and never re-registered: you may be able to vote a limited ballot — the offices and measures shared between your old and new county. Limited ballots are available only during early voting (Oct 19–30) and only at the main early voting polling place — for Bexar County that’s the Elections Department at 1103 S. Frio St. Limited ballots are not available on Election Day.
• Voting by mail while on suspense: you’ll complete a Statement of Residence with your mail ballot as well.

Early voting: October 19–30, anywhere in Bexar County

Any registered Bexar County voter can vote early in person at any early voting location in the county — it does not have to be near your home. Hours for the November 3, 2026 election:

• Mon Oct 19 – Fri Oct 23: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Sat Oct 24: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
• Sun Oct 25: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.
• Mon Oct 26 – Fri Oct 30: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.

The main early voting location is Bexar County Elections, 1103 S. Frio St., San Antonio. The full site list is on the county’s elections site, linked below. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Bexar County’s vote-center model means you can vote at any polling location in the county that day — if you’re in line by 7 p.m., you can vote.

Bring an accepted photo ID — a Texas driver license, Texas personal identification card, Texas Election Identification Certificate, Texas handgun license, U.S. military ID with photo, U.S. citizenship certificate with photo, or a U.S. passport (book or card).

Deadline box: voting by mail

Texas mail voting is limited to voters who are 65 or older, sick or disabled, out of the county during the voting period, confined in jail but still eligible, or expecting to give birth around Election Day. If that is you: your application must be received — not postmarked — by Friday, October 23. Don’t mail it at the last minute; hand-deliver it to Bexar County Elections at 1103 S. Frio St. if the deadline is close.

Free ride on Election Day: VIA

On Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, VIA Metropolitan Transit runs its long-standing Ride VIA to Vote program: show your valid voter registration card to the operator and ride fare-free on regular bus service, VIA Link, and VIAtrans paratransit across the VIA service area. Registered VIAtrans riders should schedule as usual. The free fare is an Election Day program — early voting days are regular fare — so plan accordingly, and check viainfo.net or call VIA at (210) 362-2020 for routes and any updates before you ride.

And if working the election pays better than watching it: Bexar County hires poll workers at $16–$18 an hour for early voting and Election Day — see our guide to getting paid to work the election in San Antonio.

FAQ

How do I check if I’m registered to vote in San Antonio?
Go to VoteTexas.gov and use “Am I Registered?” — search by your VUID (on your voter certificate), your Texas driver’s license number, or your first and last name. Or call Bexar County Elections at 210-335-VOTE (210-335-8683).

What does “suspense” mean on my voter registration?
Per the Texas Secretary of State, it means the registrar isn’t certain of your current residential address — usually because election mail came back undeliverable. You are still registered and can vote; you’ll fill out a Statement of Residence at the polls first.

I moved within San Antonio. Can I still vote?
Yes. Vote and complete a Statement of Residence at the polls. On Election Day, VoteTexas advises voting at the precinct where you previously lived. During early voting (Oct 19–30) you can use any Bexar County early voting location.

I moved to a new county and missed the registration deadline. Now what?
You may qualify for a limited ballot — but only during early voting, and only at the main early voting polling place in your new county (in Bexar County: 1103 S. Frio St.). There is no limited ballot on Election Day.

When is early voting in Bexar County for the November 2026 election?
Monday, October 19 through Friday, October 30, 2026. Hours: Oct 19–23, 8 a.m.–6 p.m.; Sat Oct 24, 7 a.m.–7 p.m.; Sun Oct 25, 12–6 p.m.; Oct 26–30, 7 a.m.–7 p.m. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 7 a.m.–7 p.m.

Is there a free ride to the polls?
On Election Day (Nov 3), VIA’s Ride VIA to Vote program offers fare-free rides on regular bus service, VIA Link, and VIAtrans when you show a valid voter registration card. Early voting days are regular fare.

Helpful links & phone numbers

• VoteTexas.gov — the Secretary of State’s official voter site. Use “Am I Registered?” to check your status; the Registration FAQs explain suspense status and the Statement of Residence.
• Bexar County Elections (elections.bexar.gov) — early voting sites and hours, sample ballots, and mail-ballot information. Phone: 210-335-VOTE (210-335-8683). Main office/main early voting site: 1103 S. Frio St., San Antonio, TX 78207.
• VIA Metropolitan Transit (viainfo.net) — routes, schedules, and Ride VIA to Vote details. Phone: (210) 362-2020.
• Get Paid to Work the Election in San Antonio — our guide to $16–$18/hr Bexar County poll worker jobs for early voting and Nov 3.
• San Antonio Free Meals — free food distributions, pantries, and community meals across San Antonio, no application needed.

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