Forsan, Texas Public Records

Texas residents can register to vote online through the Texas Secretary of State website at www.votetexas.gov, or by submitting a paper application available from the Howard County elections office, public libraries, and various government offices. Registration applications must be postmarked or submitted at least 30 days before an election to be eligible to vote in that election. The state requires voters to present an acceptable form of photo identification at the polls, including a Texas driver's license, Texas ID card, U.S. Passport, military ID, or other approved documents. Because Forsan is unincorporated and has no municipal government, there are no mayoral or city council elections specific to the community. Residents vote in Howard County elections for county commissioners, county judge, sheriff, county clerk, and other county offices, as well as in state legislative and federal elections. The county is part of Texas House District 72 and Texas Senate District 31. Local governance issues relevant to residents are decided by the Howard County Commissioners Court, which consists of the County Judge and four commissioners elected from single-member precincts. Voters can find their assigned polling place by visiting the Texas Secretary of State's polling place lookup tool at www.votetexas.gov or by contacting the Howard County Elections office at (432) 264-2214. Texas allows early voting for all elections beginning 17 days before election day and continuing through the fourth day before the election. Early voting locations for the county are announced before each election and typically include the County Courthouse and potentially other sites in Big Spring. Texas election records that are publicly accessible include voter registration lists (available for limited purposes under Texas Election Code restrictions), campaign finance reports filed by candidates and political committees (searchable through the Texas Ethics Commission at www.ethics.state.tx.us for state-level races), candidate applications and filings, and official precinct-level election results. The county elections office maintains historical election results and voter turnout statistics. In the November 2024 presidential election, Howard County reported voter turnout of approximately 40-45% of registered voters, consistent with turnout patterns in rural West Texas counties. Specific precinct data for the Forsan area showed similar participation rates. Looking ahead to the November 3, 2026 general election, Forsan and Howard County voters will decide several significant races. At the federal level, Texas will hold elections for U.S. Senate (the Class II seat currently held by John Cornyn is up in 2026), all U.S. House seats including the district representing Howard County, and potentially special elections if vacancies occur. At the state level, 2026 is not a gubernatorial election year in Texas (the governor serves four-year terms with the next election in 2026), but voters will elect all 150 members of the Texas House of Representatives, and half of the 31-member Texas Senate will be on the ballot depending on district rotation. County voters will also elect county officials whose terms expire in 2026, potentially including county commissioners from specific precincts, and various county offices depending on term schedules. Local school board positions for Forsan ISD may also appear on the ballot if regular trustee elections are scheduled. Texas allows absentee voting by mail only for voters who meet specific criteria: those 65 years or older, those who will be absent from the county during the election period and early voting, those confined in jail but otherwise eligible, or those with a disability or illness that prevents voting in person. Applications for mail-in ballots must be submitted to the Howard County Elections Administrator and must be received (not postmarked) by the 11th day before election day. Applications are available at www.votetexas.gov or from the Howard County elections office.