Only specific reasons entitle a registered voter to vote early by mail. You may request a ballot by mail if you:

1) will be away from your county on Election Day and during early voting

2) are sick or disabled;

3) are 65 years of age or older on Election Day; or

4) are confined in jail.

If you qualify, the next step is to request an Application for Ballots by Mail (ABBM) from the County Clerk’s office. To request that call 830 868-7357. The ABBM will be mailed to you. Complete the form and return it to the County Clerk’s Office in Johnson City. You can submit that form now. The ABBM form must be received in the County Clerk’s office by October 26, 2010 for you to receive a ballot by mail.

If you qualify to vote by mail because you will be out of town, your ballot will be mailed to the address where you will be on Election Day, not to your residence. If you are 65 or older you have the option to vote by mail and have the ballot mailed to your home address. The early voting clerk must receive your marked ballot by 7 p.m. on Election Day. If you are mailing your ballot from outside the United States, the early voting clerk must receive your ballot by the fifth day after Election Day. (You must mail it no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day.)

Voters requesting to vote by mail, must vote by mail or bring the ballot to the election judge at the polls. You may not be able vote at the polls if you do not return the mail-in ballot.

Persons in jail who are registered to vote and convicted of a misdemeanor may vote by mail. In Texas, a convicted felon regains the right to vote after completing his or her sentence. Therefore, once you have completed the punishment phase (including any term of incarceration, parole, or supervision, or completed a period of probation ordered by the court), you would be eligible to register and vote in the state of Texas. Next week, Voters with Special Needs.

Source: Texas Secretary of State’s Office www.sos.state.tx.us