What You Need to Know About Voting By Mail:
If you are a Collin County registered voter, you can vote by mail if:
- You expect to be absent from the County during both the early voting period and election day;
- You have a disability;
- You are 65 years of age or older; or
- You are confined in jail and not finally convicted of a felony.
Note: Fear of COVID-19 alone does not qualify as a disability under state law. The decision to apply to vote by mail because of a disability or physical condition is your own (subject to a correct understanding of the law) based on your current health conditions and health history.
We strongly recommend that you APPLY NOW if you think you may want to vote by mail this November. Applying now will provide enough time for your application to be processed and for you to receive and return your ballot in time to have it count. Please do not wait to apply!
- When you submit the application form, you will be given two options:
- Have the application mailed to you with a pre-addressed envelope that you then return by mail.
- Download and print the application. Complete it/mail it to: Early Voting Clerk, 2010 Redbud Blvd, Suite 102, McKinney, TX 75069
About the voting by mail process
- After you have submitted a valid application to vote by mail, you will receive a mail-in ballot in the mail, when they are sent out (e.g. late September for the upcoming election), pursuant to the application unless the Collin Elections Department contacts you directly.
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When you receive your ballot, follow the instructions. In particular, make sure to sign your application the same way you will later sign your ballot envelope. When you submit your mail-in ballot, the signature on the ballot envelope MUST MATCH the signature on your application if your vote is to count. For example, if you sign John D. Jones on the application and J. D. Jones on the ballot envelope -- they don't match and your ballot may be rejected.
- You can return your completed mail-in ballot two ways:
- Simply mail it back (with postage) to the Collin County Elections Department, 2010 Redbud Blvd, Suite 102, McKinney, TX 75069, or
- Drop it off in person at the Collin County Elections office during office hours (8 am - 5 pm, M - F). You have to go inside, sign a form, and show your ID. You can only take your own ballot.
Important:
* Only one first-class stamp is required on when mailing in your ballot.
** Only one ballot may be put in an envelope. Example: if you put your ballot and your spouse’s in the same envelope, it is likely that one or both of the ballots will not count.
We strongly recommend you fill out and send in your ballot as soon as you receive it.
VOTE BY MAIL FAQ
Q. "I voted by mail in the Primary Runoff, will I automatically get a ballot for November?"
A. Yes, you should, but you can verify by calling the Elections Department at (972) 547-1900.
Q. "When are mail ballots being sent to us?"
A. Starting in late September the Elections Department will begin mailing out ballots to those who have registered to vote by mail.
Q. "I'm confused. I voted by mail in the Primary and assumed I would get my November ballot in the mail, but I received another Vote-By-Mail Application in the mail. Do I need to complete it?
A. There are several groups, including the Texas Democratic Party, that are sending out vote-by-mail applications to voters. If you have previously applied to vote by mail and are certain you will be getting a mail-in ballot, you can discard this application. If you are not sure, you can follow up with the Elections Department at (972) 547-1900.
Q. "How do I know if my vote counts?"
A. Every morning after the previous day of Early Voting, the list of voters is available for anyone to view on the Collin County Elections Website. (It is a large spreadsheet and might take a long time to download. Once you have the list, you can search for your name.).
Q. What if I request a mail in ballot and then decide I want to vote in person?
A. You can still vote in-person, but bring your mail-in ballot with you to the polls. You will then turn in your mail-in ballot at the polling center and they will then let you vote in person. If you do not take your mail-in ballot with you, you will be allowed to vote a “provisional ballot,” which will be counted on or after Election Day once the Elections Department confirms you did not also send in your mail-in ballot.
Q. Can I drop off my ballot at a vote center?
A. No. Mail-in ballots cannot be dropped off at the polls. The only place they can be submitted in person is at the Collin County Elections Department office, 2010 Redbud Blvd, Suite 102, McKinney, TX 75069, during business hours.
If you have additional questions, you may contact our Collin County Democratic Party Elections Team at elections@collindemocrats.org or call 972-578-1483.
