National Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Baylor is committed to supporting students’ rights to vote and providing the necessary resources to help them make plans to participate in this vital part of our democracy.
As Election Day draws near, planning ahead is important. Here is a guide to preparing for Election Day.
Register to Vote or Verify Voter Registration
The deadline to register to vote in Texas for National Election is Monday, October 5, 2026.
In order to vote, you must be registered. For Baylor students that means you have a choice – register in your home state or register in Texas. You decide where you reside for voting purposes, but you cannot be registered in two states.
If you registered previously, visit vote.gov to determine your voter registration status.
If you are a new voter or a registered voter in another state and you opt to register to vote in Texas, you must follow the state’s voting registration process.
Students may fill out a Texas voter registration application online, print it, and mail or deliver it to the voter registrar in McLennan County*. Mailed applications must be postmarked by Tuesday, October 5.
Mail application to:
McLennan County Elections
P.O. Box 2450
Waco, TX 76703-2450
OR
Submit the application in person at:
McLennan County Elections Administration Office (Records Building Basement)
214 N. 4th Street Suite 300
Waco, TX 76701
*Students registered to vote in Texas may use their Baylor/Waco address to vote in McLennan County (Baylor’s county of residence).
Students choosing to register in their home state – outside of the state of Texas – will need to follow the voting procedures of their state. Visit vote411.org/state name (example vote411.org/Alaska) to see registration deadlines and determine the absentee voting procedures for your state.
Once you are registered, you may select the voting option that best fits your needs.
Voting Options
National Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, but Texas and many other states also provide early voting opportunities to registered voters. In Texas, early voting occurs in person from Monday, October 19 to Friday, October 30, 2026.
There are two voting centers close to Baylor’s campus:
Mark and Paula Hurd Welcome Center
901 S. University Parks Drive
Waco, TX 76706
Records Building (basement of the building)
214 N. 4th Street, Suite 300
Waco, TX 76701
Voting by Mail/Absentee Ballot is encouraged for students who are registered to vote outside of Texas. Timelines and eligibility are determined by state. Learn more about voting by mail in your state at vote411.org/state name (example vote411.org/Colorado).
On Election Day, Texas voters are required to vote in their county of residence. For most Baylor students – everyone in Waco – that will be McLennan County. Students in Dallas and satellite programs should check their county’s guidelines.
For student convenience, there is a Voting Center located at Mark and Paula Hurd Welcome Center on Election Day.
If you are registered in Texas and wish to drive to a voting location, you may vote at any official voting location in McLennan County.