What Texas Educators Need to Know Before the March 3 Primary

As the March 3, 2026, primary elections approach, it is important for Texas educators to be aware of key dates and deadlines and to ensure their voter registration information is accurate.

Texas uses an open primary system, meaning voters may choose to participate in either the Republican or Democratic primary, regardless of party affiliation or whether they are affiliated with a party at all. Voting in a primary does not bind you to that party in future elections. However, it does determine which party’s runoff election, if any, you are eligible to vote in. For example, a voter who participates in the Democratic primary may vote for a Democrat, Republican, third party, or mix of candidates in November, but may only vote in a Democratic runoff in May, not a Republican one.

Key dates

Voter registration:

• The deadline to register to vote for this election is Monday, Feb. 2.

Mail-in ballot applications:

• You can apply for a ballot by mail now through Friday, Feb. 20. Applications must be received by that date, not simply postmarked.

Voting:

• Early voting begins Tuesday, Feb. 17.
• Early voting ends Friday, Feb. 27.
• Election Day is Tuesday, March 3.

Completed mail-in ballots may be returned anytime. Ballots delivered in person must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, March 3. Ballots submitted by mail must be postmarked by the same time on Election Day and received by 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 4.

Check here for more on voting by mail from our friends at the League of Women Voters.

Confirm your voter registration

While most educators have previously registered to vote, the beginning of primary season is a good time to confirm that your registration is current and accurate. This quick online check takes about one minute.

Fill in your name, date of birth, and either your county and ZIP code, driver license number, or voter ID number, and the system will confirm whether you are registered and the address associated with your registration. For a voter registration to be valid, it must reflect your current mailing address.

If you are not registered, or your address needs to be updated, you can fill out a voter registration application online, print it, sign it, and drop it in the mail.

After the primary election

If a runoff election is required, only voters who participated in that party’s primary, or who did not vote in either primary, may vote in that party’s runoff. In other words, your primary election choice determines which runoff, if any, you are eligible to participate in. Voting in a primary does not bind you to a political party beyond that runoff election, and it does not affect how you may vote in future general elections.

Use ATPE’s tools to be a better-informed voter

Now that you know the upcoming deadlines and have confirmed your registration, ATPE can help you get informed before you head to the polls. ATPE’s Teach the Vote has been used by more than 1.1 million visitors to learn more about the intersection of the Legislature and the classroom.

The candidate search tool includes a profile on every candidate running for the Texas House and Senate, the State Board of Education, and the statewide offices of governor and lieutenant governor. Candidate profiles include contact information, responses to the ATPE candidate survey, and, for incumbents, voting records on important education issues. Additional helpful information is compiled by ATPE Governmental Relations.

ATPE’s TeachtheVote.org puts this useful information at your fingertips in five minutes or less.