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Photo ID Cure Process and Exemptions

The 2016 Primary Elections are today and Tax Assessor-Collector Mike Sullivan reminds registered voters to bring an acceptable form of photo identification (photo ID) to vote in person, or they will have to vote provisionally.

“We have more than 2.1 million registered voters in Harris County, and I want every registered voter to understand the photo ID process,” said Sullivan. “All registered voters who are voting in person must present an acceptable photo ID to vote.”

A voter will be required to show one of the following forms of photo ID at the polling location before they will be permitted to cast a vote:

  • Texas driver license issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
  • Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS
  • Texas personal identification card issued by DPS
  • Texas license to carry a handgun issued by DPS
  • United States military identification card containing the person’s photograph
  • United States citizenship certificate containing the person’s photograph
  • United States passport

If a voter does not present an acceptable form of photo ID when voting in person, they will be permitted to vote provisionally. After voting, they have the opportunity to present an acceptable photo ID to cure their vote at any Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector’s Office by March 7, 2016. The cure process only applies to registered voters who vote provisionally and did not present an acceptable form of photo ID.

“Registered voters who do not have any form of photo ID and have a qualifying disability may apply for a permanent exemption at my office,” said Mr. Sullivan.

To receive this permanent exemption, the registered voter must provide one of the following:

  • Documentation from the U.S. Social Security Administration verifying the individual has a disability
  • Documentation from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs verifying the individual hasH a disability rating of at least 50 percentarris County
  • Houston

Photo ID Exemption applications can be found at any Tax Assessor-Collector’s Office branch location and can be submitted in person at the branch location, fax at 713-368-2309, e-mail at voters@hctx.net or mail at P.O. Box 3527, Houston, TX 77253.

For more information about photo ID, exemptions or the cure process, please visit www.hctax.net.

Facts and Stats

Stats

Total Number of Register Voters in Harris County: 2,111,284

Acceptable forms of photo ID:

  • Texas driver license issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
  • Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS
  • Texas personal identification card issued by DPS
  • Texas license to carry a handgun issued by DPS
  • United States military identification card containing the person’s photograph
  • United States citizenship certificate containing the person’s photograph
  • United States passport

Photo ID Permanent Exemptions

Voters with a qualifying disability may apply at any Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector branch office for a permanent exemption. The application must contain written documentation from either:

  • The U.S. Social Security Administration evidencing he or she has been determined to have a disability, or
  • The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs evidencing a disability rating of at least 50 percent.

In addition, the applicant must state that he or she has no valid form of photo identification. Those who obtain a disability exemption will be allowed to vote by presenting a voter registration certificate reflecting the exemption. Voters who have a consistent religious objection to being photographed and voters who do not have any valid form of photo identification as a result of certain natural disasters as declared by the President of the United States or the Texas Governor, may vote a provisional ballot, appear a Tax Assessor-Collector’s Office within six (6) calendar days after election day, and sign an affidavit swearing to the religious objection or natural disaster, in order for your ballot to be counted. Additional information can be found at www.hctax.net.

Cure Process

Voters who do not present a valid form of photo ID will be permitted to cast a provisional ballot. Those voters have until Monday, March 7, 2016 to present appropriate photo identification or apply for and receive an exemption at any Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector branch office. Once this and all other requirements are met, the provisional ballot will be accepted.

Super Tuesday: Houston Voter ID Information  was originally published on theboxhouston.com