Tex. Elec. Code § 86.007 (2026)

Sec. 86.007. DEADLINE FOR RETURNING MARKED BALLOT. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (d), a marked ballot voted by mail must arrive at the address on the carrier envelope:

(1) before the time the polls are required to close on election day; or

(2) not later than 5 p.m. on the day after election day, if the carrier envelope was placed for delivery by mail or common or contract carrier before election day and bears a cancellation mark of a common or contract carrier or a courier indicating a time not later than 7 p.m. at the location of the election on election day.

(b) If the early voting clerk cannot determine whether a ballot arrived before the deadline, the ballot is considered to have arrived at the time the place at which the carrier envelopes are deposited was last inspected for removal of returned ballots. The clerk shall check for returned ballots, at least once before the deadline, after the normal delivery time on the last day at the place at which the carrier envelopes are deposited.

(c) A marked ballot that is not timely returned may not be counted.

(d) A marked ballot voted by mail that arrives after the time prescribed by Subsection (a) shall be counted if:

(1) the ballot was cast from an address outside the United States;

(2) the carrier envelope was placed for delivery before the time the ballot is required to arrive under Subsection (a)(1); and

(3) the ballot arrives at the address on the carrier envelope not later than the fifth day after the date of the election.

(d-1) If the deadline for the arrival of a ballot voted by mail falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal state or national holiday, then the deadline is extended to the next regular business day.

(e) A delivery under Subsection (a)(2) or (d) is timely, except as otherwise provided by this title, if the carrier envelope or, if applicable, the envelope containing the carrier envelope:

(1) is properly addressed with postage or handling charges prepaid; and

(2) bears a cancellation mark of a recognized postal service or a receipt mark of a common or contract carrier or a courier indicating a time before the deadline.

(f) The envelope must bear the cancellation mark or receipt mark as required by Subsection (e)(2) to be timely under this section.

(g) The secretary of state shall prescribe procedures as necessary to implement Subsection (d).

Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986. Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 472, Sec. 29, eff. Sept. 1, 1987; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 203, Sec. 2.12; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 554, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1991; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1349, Sec. 38, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1316, Sec. 24, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., 3rd C.S., ch. 1, Sec. 4, eff. Jan. 11, 2004.

Amended by:

Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1062 (H.B. 1414), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2005.

Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1107 (H.B. 2309), Sec. 1.18, eff. September 1, 2005.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 818 (H.B. 1151), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2017.