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How do I contact your office? |
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The telephone number for the Harris
County Tax Office is (713) 368-2200. We are located at
1001 Preston, 2nd Floor, Room 200, in Downtown Houston.
Many of our Tax Office substations are able to serve you,
without the need for you to go downtown. To find the Tax Office location nearest
you, go to our Office Locations Page. Also, e-mail us and we'll respond to your request as soon as
possible. Our mailing address is: Paul Bettencourt,
Tax Assessor-Collector, P.O. Box 3527, Houston, Texas, 77253-3527.
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| Q. |
Who is eligible to register to vote in Harris County elections? |
According to the Secretary of State's office, to be eligible to register to vote in Texas, you must:
- be a United States citizen;
- be a resident of Harris County;
- be 18 years old (you may register at 17 years and 10 months of age);
- not be a convicted felon (unless your sentence is completed, including any probation or parole); and
- not be declared mentally incompetent by a final judgment of a court.
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| Q. |
Where can I get a voter registration application? |
Voter Registration Applications are available at our office downtown, or at any of our other branch locations throughout Harris County. They
are also available at many libraries, post offices, Texas Department of Public Safety
offices and Texas Department of Human Services offices
in Harris County. Additionally, you may obtain an application by:
- calling us at (713) 368-2200
- sending your request by mail. The mailing address is Paul Bettencourt, Tax Assessor-Collector, P.O. Box 3527, Houston, Texas 77253-3527; or
- requesting an application online.
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| Q. |
How soon before an election can I register and be able to vote? |
You may register to vote at any time:
- Complete a postage-free post card application and mail it, or take it in person to any Harris County Tax Office location.
- You must be at least 17 years and ten months of age on the date your application is submitted.
- Your application must be submitted 30 days before the election date for you to be eligible to vote in that election.
- Your spouse, parent or child (acting as an agent) may complete and sign a voter registration application for you, provided that this person is a registered voter, or has applied for voter registration.
- If any of the information on the application is incomplete, you will be notified and required to send a second application. The second application must be received by the Harris County Voter Registrar within 10 days.
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| Q. |
After I have registered, when will I receive my Voter Registration Certificate? |
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You will receive a Voter Registration
Certificate within 30 days. Check your certificate to make sure all information is
correct. If there is a mistake, immediately make corrections and
return the certificate to the registrar. Present your certificate at the Harris
County polling place on election day. You will receive a color-coded certificate
every two years.
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| Q. |
What do I do if I have changed my address, but still live in Harris County? |
- Promptly notify the Harris County Voter Registrar in writing of your new address by:
- correcting the information on your current voter
registration certificate and returning it to the voter registrar; or
- completing a voter registration change form (contact the Harris County Voter Registrar or the Secretary of State's office for a form).
- Your spouse, parent or child (acting as an agent) may complete and sign a change of address form for you, provided that this person is a registered voter, or has applied for registration.
- You will receive a new, corrected certificate.
- You will be able to vote in your new precinct 30 days after your notice has been received.
- Meanwhile: You may vote a full ballot in your former precinct if your registration has not become effective in your new precinct.
- You must notify the Harris County Voter Registrar of your change of address as soon as possible.
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| Q. |
And if I move to another county in the State of Texas? |
- You must re-register. Complete an application and mail it or take it in person to the voter registrar of your new county.
- You will receive a new certificate.
- You may be eligible to vote a limited ballot in your new county of residence for 90 days after moving if:
- you were qualified to vote in your former county at the time you moved;
- there is an election in the 90 days after you moved; and
- your registration in the new county is not yet effective.
- If you vote a limited ballot, you may vote on all statewide offices and propositions and for all district offices which are common to your new and former counties of residence.
- You must apply for a limited ballot and vote by personal appearance with the early voting clerk conducting the election in your new county during the early voting period which generally begins on the 17th day and ends on the 4th day before an election, or by mail if you are already eligible to vote by mail.
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| Q. |
My name has changed. Can I still vote? |
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You may continue to vote. Vote by affidavit during this time if you used your certificate as your
notice of name change. Promptly notify the voter registrar in writing of
the name change following the same steps for change of address. Your spouse, parent or child (acting as an agent) may complete and
sign a change of name for you, provided that this person is a registered voter or has applied for
registration. You will receive a new, corrected certificate 30 days after your notice is received.
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| Q. |
What does the term "suspense" mean on a voter's record? |
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Pursuant to Sec. 13.146(b) of the
Election Code, the term "suspense" is used to
designate those voters for whom the Harris County Voter
Registrar does not have a current address. A voter with this
designation will be removed from the suspense list once that
person has advised the Harris County Registrar of Voters of his or her new address. This new
address is important, not only so that our records will be
accurate, but also so that the voter is voting in the elections
where he or she resides.
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| Q. |
How do I get the voter registration cancelled if my family member is deceased? |
Did you receive any one of the following document types?
- Address Confirmation Form
- Voter Registration Certificate
- Jury Summons
If yes,
- Write the voter's name (if not pre-printed) on the form,
- Write “deceased” across the front of the form,
- Sign your name, and
- Record your relationship to the voter beside your name (i.e. husband, wife, son, daughter, etc.)
Return the notice to our office. This voter registration record can now be cancelled.
If no,
Send a sworn statement to the Voter Registrar that the person is deceased:
- Include the name of the voter, registration address, and date of birth
- Sign your name, and record your relationship to the voter beside your name (i.e. husband, wife, son, daughter, etc.)
- Mail to the Harris County Voter Registrar:
Paul Bettencourt
Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector and Voter Registrar
1001 Preston, Room 200
Houston, TX 77002
This voter registration record can now be cancelled.
Or,
Send an original or certified copy of the Certificate of Death to our office. We will return the documents to sender.
- Submit a written letter or note requesting cancellation of the voter registration.
- Include in your correspondence:
- Name of deceased voter,
- Voter's residence address on the registration,
- Voter's date of birth, and
- Your name and residence address.
This voter registration record can now be cancelled.
After cancellation of the voter registration, we will:
- Record the Certificate of Death in the voter's file, and
- Return the original Certificate of Death to the sender. (Don't forget to include your name and address in your correspondence.)
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