Carrollton City, Texas Public Records

Anyone researching development projects - commercial or residential - should check with the city's Planning Department for zoning maps, permit records, and related documentation that might affect their plans.

Registering to vote means visiting the Texas Secretary of State's website at votetexas.gov, where residents can complete an online application. The system generates a form that must be printed, signed, and mailed to the Denton County Elections office. The registration deadline falls 30 days before any election. Applicants need to be U.S. Citizens, at least 18 years old by election day, county residents who haven't been finally convicted of a felony (or who've completed their full sentence including probation and parole), and not declared mentally incapacitated by a court. Acceptable identification includes a Texas driver's license, election identification certificate, U.S. Passport, military ID, or citizenship certificate with photo. Once approved, voters receive a registration certificate by mail showing their precinct and polling location. As an incorporated municipality, Carrollton conducts its own elections for City Council and mayor. These contests happen on the uniform election date in May. The City Council consists of a mayor and seven members serving staggered three-year terms. The next municipal elections are scheduled for May 2025 and May 2026, with several council seats up for grabs. Candidate filing information, campaign finance reports, and local ballot measures are available through the Carrollton City Secretary's office at carrolltontx.gov or by calling 972-466-3030. Like many Texas municipalities, local elections here are non-partisan. Finding your assigned polling place requires a visit to the Denton County Elections website at dentoncounty.gov/departments/elections, where a lookup tool asks for your residential address. The system displays your election day location, early voting sites, and operating hours. During the two-week early voting period before any election, the county typically opens numerous locations across Denton County, and residents can cast ballots at any early voting site regardless of which precinct they call home. Texas law makes extensive election records available to the public. Voter registration lists can be requested from the Denton County elections office, though individual voter history remains protected. Campaign finance reports for local candidates must be filed with the city secretary and are open for inspection. State candidate finance reports are searchable at ethics.state.tx.us. Candidate filing documents, ballot language, and precinct-level election results get published by the Elections Administrator after certification. Historical election results for the county are archived on the elections website. The November 2024 presidential election brought strong turnout in Denton County, with approximately 62-65% of registered voters participating. Total turnout exceeded 350,000 votes countywide during the general election, reflecting an engaged electorate and competitive political environment. Looking ahead to November 3, 2026, residents will face several significant decisions. The midterm ballot will feature the Texas Governor's race (four-year term) and all statewide executive offices including Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Comptroller, Land Commissioner, and Agriculture Commissioner. One U.S. Senate seat will be contested (Class II seat), following Texas's rotating schedule for Senate elections. All 38 Texas congressional districts, including those representing Carrollton (currently the 26th and 24th districts), will elect U.S. Representatives. The entire Texas House of Representatives (150 seats) and half of the Texas Senate will be on the ballot. County voters will also elect the County Judge, commissioners for certain precincts, district and county clerks, sheriff, tax assessor-collector, county attorney, and district judges. Specific local races, bond propositions, and charter amendments may appear depending on city council decisions. Texas restricts absentee voting by mail to specific categories: voters 65 or older, those who will be out of the county during the election period and early voting, people confined in jail but still eligible to vote, or voters with a disability or illness preventing in-person voting. Absentee ballot applications must be submitted to the Denton County Elections Administration office and can be downloaded from dentoncounty.gov/departments/elections. Applications must be received (not postmarked) by the 11th day before election day. Completed ballots must be postmarked by election day and received by the next business day. Unlike many states, Texas doesn't offer universal mail-in voting or no-excuse absentee voting.