Texas mail-in voting rules will remain strict

Last updated: September 8, 2026

In August 2025, a federal appeals court upheld Texas's ID-number requirement for mail ballots, reversing a lower-court ruling that had found the requirement violated federal law. A separate appeals court ruling in August 2026 restored additional provisions of the same 2021 election law that a lower court had blocked, including ID-matching requirements for mail-ballot applications and rules governing ballot assistance and the correction of defective ballots. The requirements stem from SB 1 (2021), which added new rules for mail and assisted voting.

A person cannot vote by mail in Texas simply because they prefer to; they must qualify under one of five specific categories defined by the state - over 65, disabled, out of the country, close to giving birth, or in jail. Once they qualify, they must then provide matching ID numbers on both their registration forms and their ballots. If the numbers don't match exactly, their ballot will be rejected.

Why it Matters

The stricter the voting laws are, the more likely they will frustrate and disempower voters. Even for long-standing voters who consistently show up to participate in elections, adding one more rule means one less reason to exercise their right. The data speaks for itself:

• In 2022, 30,000 Texans had either their mail-in application or mail-in ballot rejected ahead of the primary election. As a result, almost 90% of them never voted.
• Of the 30,000 voters rejected, 16% were less likely to have voted later that year in the general election, despite having voted consistently in the last three general elections in Texas.

Related WRDI Reporting

Texas Women's Rights Summary
Voting Rights Coverage

Sources

Brennan Center for Justice - Study Reveals the Lasting Voter Suppression Effects of Restrictive Texas Law