What Lone Star Registration Is

Lone Star Registration is Texas's online system for registering to vote. Instead of filling out a paper form at the county clerk's office or a voter registration drive, you complete the registration through the Texas Secretary of State website. The system checks your information against state databases — your driver's license, ID card, or Social Security number — to verify you meet Texas voting requirements.

When you submit a Lone Star registration, it goes to your county's voter registrar, who reviews it and either approves it or asks for more information. You do not need to print anything, mail anything, or visit an office. The whole process happens online.

Key Takeaways

  • Lone Star Registration lets you register to vote online through the Texas Secretary of State website using your driver's license, ID card, or Social Security number.
  • You must be a Texas resident, at least 18 years old on Election Day, and a U.S. citizen to register, and you cannot be declared mentally incapacitated or be a convicted felon currently serving a sentence.
  • Registration closes 30 days before Election Day, so you need to submit your form well in advance of when you want to vote.
  • After you submit your registration, the county registrar reviews it within days or weeks; you can check the status by logging back into Lone Star with the same information you used to register.
  • If you do not have a driver's license or ID card, you can register by mail using a paper form instead.

Who Can Register Through Lone Star

To register through Lone Star, you must be a Texas resident, at least 18 years old on the day of the election you want to vote in, and a U.S. citizen. You cannot register if you have been declared mentally incapacitated by a court, or if you are currently serving a sentence for a felony conviction. A felony conviction alone does not bar you — only an active sentence does.

You also need either a Texas driver's license, a Texas ID card issued by the Department of Public Safety, or a Social Security number. Lone Star uses one of these to verify your identity against state records. If you do not have any of these, you will need to register by mail instead using a paper voter registration form.

How to Register on the Lone Star Website

Go to votetexas.gov, the official Texas Secretary of State voter information site. Look for the link to register online or update your registration. You will be taken to the Lone Star system.

Enter your Texas driver's license number or ID card number, or your Social Security number. Provide your date of birth and the last four digits of your Social Security number (if you are using a license or ID). The system will pull up information tied to that number and ask you to confirm or correct it — your name, address, date of birth, and citizenship status.

Review everything carefully. If your address has changed, update it now. If any information is wrong, correct it before you submit. Once you submit, the form goes to your county registrar. You will receive a confirmation number on screen — write it down or take a screenshot.

What Happens After You Submit

Your county registrar receives your registration and reviews it, usually within a few days to a couple of weeks. They check that you meet all the requirements and that the information matches state records. If everything looks correct, they approve your registration and you are added to the voter rolls.

If something does not match or is missing, the registrar may contact you by mail or email asking for more information. Read any mail from your county registrar carefully and respond quickly — if you do not respond, your registration may be delayed or denied.

You can check the status of your registration by going back to votetexas.gov and logging into Lone Star with the same driver's license number, ID number, or Social Security number you used to register. The system will tell you whether your registration is pending, approved, or if more information is needed.

Registration important date and Timing

Voter registration closes 30 days before Election Day. This means if an election is on November 5, registration closes on October 6. You must submit your Lone Star registration before midnight on the important date date. After that date, you cannot register for that election online or by mail.

Because the county registrar needs time to process your registration after you submit it, registering early — a week or two before the important date — gives you time to follow up if the registrar needs more information from you. If you wait until the last few days and something goes wrong, you may not have time to fix it.

If You Cannot Use Lone Star

If you do not have a Texas driver's license, ID card, or Social Security number, you cannot use Lone Star. Instead, you can register by mail using a paper voter registration form. You can get the form from your county clerk's office, a public library, or by downloading it from votetexas.gov.

Fill out the form, sign it, and mail it to your county registrar. The address is on the form. Mail it early — it must arrive at the registrar's office by the registration important date, not be postmarked by that date. If you are close to the important date, hand-deliver it to the registrar's office instead to make sure it arrives on time.

You can also register in person at your county clerk's office or at certain public agencies like the Department of Public Safety, libraries, and social service offices. The registrar's office can tell you which locations in your county offer in-person registration.

Updating an Existing Registration

If you are already registered to vote in Texas but your address, name, or other information has changed, you can update your registration through Lone Star. Go to votetexas.gov, log in with your driver's license, ID, or Social Security number, and make the changes. Submit the update the same way you would a new registration.

You must update your registration before the 30-day important date before an election if you want to vote in that election. If you move to a different county, you will need to register in your new county — updating your address in your old county is not enough.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I do not have a Texas driver's license or ID card?

You can register by mail using a paper voter registration form or in person at your county clerk's office. You will need to provide your Social Security number on the form so the registrar can verify your identity. If you do not have a Social Security number either, contact your county registrar to find out what documents you can use instead.

How long does it take to get approved after I submit through Lone Star?

Most registrations are approved within a few days to two weeks. If the registrar needs more information, they will contact you by mail or email. Check your registration status on votetexas.gov by logging back in with the same information you used to register.

Can I register if I have a felony conviction?

You can register if your felony sentence is complete. You cannot register if you are currently serving a sentence for a felony, including probation or parole. Once your sentence ends, you regain the right to register and vote in Texas.

What if I submit my registration but then move before the election?

If you move within the same county, update your address through Lone Star before the registration important date. If you move to a different county, you must register in your new county — your old registration will not transfer. Register in your new county as soon as you move so you have time before the important date.

Do I need to bring my confirmation number when I vote?

No. Your confirmation number is just proof that you submitted your registration. When you vote, bring a photo ID like your driver's license or passport. The poll workers will look you up in the voter rolls to confirm you are registered.