TEXAS — Believe it or not, Election Day in Texas is right around the corner. In fact, in order to vote on May 1, you will need to be registered by Thursday, April 1.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott earlier this year selected May 1 for the special election to succeed U.S. Rep. Ron Wright, R-Arlington.

Wright died on February 7 this year after being diagnosed with COVID-19.

There are several other important races as well. San Antonio residents, for instance, will decide on a mayor, city council seats and two propositions.

Up north, voters in Fort Worth, Plano and Arlington will decide on mayors.

If you’re unsure of your registration status, visit the state’s Am I Registered page. 

If you have moved within the same county recently, you can update your address here. 

If you need to register to vote you must complete a voter registration application and return it to your county election office. You’ve got three options:

• Complete an application using the SOS online voter registration application. 
• Request a printed application. This will come by mail but at this point it’s probably too late for the April 1 deadline. 
• Contact your local voter registrar to complete the registration process.

In order to register to vote you must:

• Be a United States citizen;
• Be a resident of the county in which you submit your application;
• Be at least 17 years and 10 months old and be 18 years old on Election Day;
• Not be a convicted felon;
• Not have been declared totally or partially mentally incapacitated without the right to vote by a court

The early voting period for the May 1 election begins on April 19 and concludes on April 27.