Austin Communications and Engagement

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Voter Resources

Let’s get ready to vote, Austin! Read on to learn more about upcoming elections and important resources for voters, including how to register to vote, how to learn about ballot measures and candidates, where to vote, and important election dates. 

What Can I Vote On?

The November 2026 election provides the opportunity to vote on Austin City Council Candidates for Districts 1, 3, 5, 8, and 9, bond proposals, and potential city charter amendments, as well as many other state and federal government officials.  

Bond Proposals

In the November 2026 general election, Austinites will consider two bond propositions – Proposition A and Proposition B – totaling $295 million for investments in parks, recreation facilities, and public libraries. Learn more about the proposed bond package here.  

Proposed City Charter Amendments

In the November 2026 general election, Austinites can also vote on proposed amendments to the Austin City Charter (Propositions C-J), which is essentially a constitution for the city. Learn more about the charter and proposed amendments here.

Meet Local Candidates

In 2026, the open seats in Austin include City Council Districts 1, 3, 5, 8, and 9. View all the official Austin City Council Candidates here. This fall, the City of Austin, the City's Ethics Review Commission, and the League of Women Voters Austin Area will sponsor City Council Candidate Panels, where voters can learn more about candidates running for the open Council seats.

 Voters can suggest questions for the candidates by emailing candidateforums@lwvaustin.org or calling 512-451-6710 by 5 p.m. of each panel date. Questions may be citywide or Council district-specific.

Dates and locations for each of the panels are listed below. The panels are held in-person in each of the districts, plus they are aired live on ATXN and KAZI FM 88.7. Recordings of the panels will also be posted on ATXN’s YouTube channel.

To request language interpretation services for any of the panels, please call 3-1-1.

  • District 1 Candidate Panel
    Thursday, October 15, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.
    Asian American Resource Center (8401 Cameron Rd, Austin, TX 78754)
  • District 3 Candidate Panel
    Thursday, October 1, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.
    Learning and Research Center (5202 E. Ben White Blvd., Suite 500, Austin, TX 78741)
  • District 5 Candidate Panel
    Thursday, September 17, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.
    South Austin Senior Activity Center (3911 Menchaca Rd, Austin, TX 78704)
  • District 8 Candidate Panel
    Monday, September 21, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.
    Hampton Branch Library (5125 Convict Hill Rd, Austin, TX 78749)
  • District 9 Candidate Panel 
    Tuesday, September 29, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.
    City Hall Council Chambers (301 W 2nd St, Austin, TX 78701)
  • All Districts Runoff Election Panel (if needed)
    Monday, November 23, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.
    City Hall Council Chambers (301 W 2nd St, Austin, TX 78701)

Learn About Candidates and Ballot Measures

Another helpful resource is the Voters Guide prepared by the League of Women Voters (LWV), a nonpartisan nonprofit organization. The guide provides detailed information on people who are running for local, state, and national offices, where candidates stand on issues, and ballot measures for your area.

The Voters Guide is available in English, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, and Vietnamese. Through the site, voters can also create a personalized Voters Guide, which they can print and take to the voting booth.

Register to Vote 

The deadline to register to vote in the November 2026 elections is October 5, 2026. Visit the Vote Texas Voter Registration page to register to vote and find other helpful resources to help:

  • Confirm whether you are already registered to vote and find your precinct

  • Check if you are eligible to register to vote

  • Update your voter registration information

  • Contact your county’s voter registration office 

When and Where to Vote

You can vote in-person or by mail. Check out the links below to find information on early voting, important election dates, polling locations, and how to vote by mail.

Vote in-person

When: The official Election Day is November 3, 2026. Those who would like to vote in-person can vote either on Election Day or during the early voting period. Early voting is open from October 19, 2026 to October 30, 2026.

Where: To find your polling location and times that polling places are open for voting, visit your county’s elections site:

Vote by mail

To apply to vote by mail, visit the Texas Secretary of State’s vote by mail site. Voting by mail in Texas is available for those who are:

  • 65 years or older;
  • Sick or disabled;
  • Out of the county during early voting and on Election Day;
  • Expecting to give birth within 3 weeks before or after Election Day; or
  • In jail, but otherwise eligible to vote.

Applications to vote by mail are due by October 23, 2026, and ballots must be submitted by Election Day. For additional information, including ID requirements, visit the VoteTexas - Voting by Mail site.
 

Additional Resources