Early voting for the 2026 Democratic and Republican primary elections runs Feb. 17-27, giving El Paso County’s 521,527 registered voters an opportunity to weigh in on key federal, state and local races.
Despite its large number of registered voters, El Paso County has historically recorded low voter turnout. In the November 2025 Uniform and Special Elections, only 10% of registered voters cast a ballot. Turnout in the 2024 general elections remained below half, with 48.75% of the county’s 522,422 registered voters casting ballots, leaving more than half of eligible voters unrepresented at the polls.
This year’s primary ballot features state and federal races for Texas governor, U.S. senator and several other local positions, including county judge, two county commissioner seats and multiple judgeships.
Here is a rundown of everything voters might want to know before heading to the polls.
How to vote
Although the voter registration deadline for the March primaries passed Feb. 2, voters can still verify their registration status online through the El Paso County Elections Department or Texas Secretary of State websites.
When arriving at a polling location, voters are required to present a valid form of photo identification. Acceptable forms of ID include a Texas driver’s license, Texas election identification certificate, Texas Personal ID card, Texas handgun license, U.S. military ID, U.S. passport or U.S. naturalization certificate.
A complete list of voter requirements, acceptable forms of identification and sample ballots are available on the El Paso County Elections department website.
During the primaries, voters do not have to register with a party in advance. However, at the polling site they must select either a Democratic or Republican ballot. This selection determines which candidates and races will appear on their ballot.
In the November general election, voters are not limited by their primary participation and may cast ballots for candidates from any party, regardless of which primary they selected earlier in the year.
When and where to vote
Early voting runs from Feb. 17 through Feb. 27. Polling centers will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Election Day is March 3, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
A full map of polling locations is available on the El Paso County Elections Department website. For students at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) ,a polling center will be located in Union Building East, Acacia Room 102A.
What’s on the ballot
The primaries determine which Democratic and Republican candidates will advance to the November general election.
In addition to 10 state propositions on the Republican ballot and 13 state propositions on the Democratic ballot, voters will see the following race: U.S. House of Representatives Districts 16 and 23, United States senator, El Paso County judge, El Paso County commissioner precincts 2 and 4, and the 120th, 168th, 171st, 205th, 210th, 243rd and 327th District Court judges.
Sample ballots, polling locations and additional voter resources are available on the El Paso County Elections Department website, which will also livestream results as polls close.
Jewel Ocampo is a Staff Reporter and may be reached at [email protected].
