Early voting begins February 17 for Texas March 3 primaries, setting up key federal and state races

Early voting opens statewide ahead of March 3 primary

Early in-person voting for Texas’ March 3, 2026 primary election begins Tuesday, February 17, with voting continuing through Friday, February 27. The primary will decide party nominees for the November general election across a wide slate of contests, including federal offices, statewide executive positions, legislative seats and judicial races.

The start date falls one day after Presidents’ Day. Under Texas election law, early voting does not occur on legal state holidays, shifting the first day of early voting to the next business day when the standard early-voting window would otherwise begin on a holiday.

Key deadlines for voters

The voter registration deadline for participation in the March 3 primary was Monday, February 2. Voters who were not registered by that date are not eligible to vote in the March primary.

For voters eligible to vote by mail, the deadline for county early voting clerks to receive a mail-ballot application is Friday, February 20. State election guidance emphasizes that the deadline is based on receipt by the clerk’s office, not the postmark date.

• First day of early voting (in person): Tuesday, February 17, 2026

• Last day of early voting (in person): Friday, February 27, 2026

• Primary Election Day: Tuesday, March 3, 2026

• Mail-ballot application deadline (received): Friday, February 20, 2026

Harris County: vote centers, extended hours, and countywide access

In Harris County, early voting is conducted through vote centers rather than precinct-specific polling places, allowing registered voters to cast ballots at any early-voting location in the county. The county’s posted schedule lists daily hours during the early-voting period, including weekend availability, with Election Day voting set for 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on March 3.

Texas primaries require voters to select one party’s ballot for the nomination contests; voting in one party’s primary determines eligibility for that party’s runoff if a runoff is triggered.

What is on the ballot and how outcomes are decided

Texas’ primary ballot includes contests for party nominations for federal offices such as U.S. Senate and U.S. House, as well as statewide and legislative races. Many jurisdictions also include judicial contests and local races depending on the voter’s address.

In races where no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, Texas law provides for a runoff between the top two finishers. The scheduled date for the primary runoff election is Tuesday, May 26, 2026.

Election administrators advise voters to confirm their registration status and review ballot content before arriving at a polling location, and to plan for potential lines during peak early-voting hours and on Election Day.