Midlothian, Texas Public Records

Every function follows the Texas Election Code, and the office provides voter information services to help residents participate in elections. Texas residents can register to vote online through the Texas Secretary of State website at www.votetexas.gov, or by completing a paper voter registration application available at libraries, government offices, and various businesses. Registration applications must be postmarked or submitted at least 30 days before an election date. To register, applicants must be U.S. Citizens, at least 18 years old on Election Day, residents of the county where they register, not finally convicted of a felony unless they have completed their sentence including parole or probation, and not declared mentally incapacitated by a court. Once registered, voters receive a certificate by mail containing their voter identification number and precinct assignment. As an incorporated city, Midlothian holds municipal elections for mayor and city council positions. The City Council consists of the mayor and six council members representing six single-member districts. Municipal elections occur in May during odd-numbered years such as 2025 and 2027, with the mayor and council members serving staggered three-year terms. Information about municipal candidates, ballot measures, and local election dates is available through the City Secretary's office at City Hall, which can be reached at 972-775-7150. Candidate filing periods typically occur in January and February preceding the May election, and details are posted on the city website. Voters can locate their assigned polling places through the Ellis County Elections website or by using the Texas Secretary of State's polling place lookup tool at www.votetexas.gov. Texas law requires voters to present an acceptable form of photo identification at the polls. Acceptable IDs include a Texas driver's license, Texas personal ID card, Texas handgun license, U.S. Passport, military ID card, or U.S. Citizenship certificate with photograph. Voters without acceptable photo ID may execute a Reasonable Impediment Declaration and present supporting documentation. Texas public information law makes numerous election records accessible to the public. Voter registration lists are available for purchase for political purposes through the Ellis County elections office or Secretary of State. Campaign finance reports filed by candidates and political committees are public record and searchable through the Texas Ethics Commission website at www.ethics.state.tx.us. Candidate filing information, including applications and petitions, is available through the elections administrator for county and local races. Precinct-level election results are posted by the Ellis County elections office following certification, typically appearing online within days of each election. In the November 2024 presidential election, Ellis County reported strong voter turnout with approximately 58-62% of registered voters casting ballots, reflecting engagement in the presidential contest. The county has trended increasingly Republican in recent elections, though growing suburban areas including the city show more competitive voting patterns than rural precincts. The November 3, 2026 general election will be significant for local voters. Texas holds statewide elections in midterm years, and 2026 will feature elections for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and all other statewide executive offices. Federal races will include U.S. Senate if the seat is up in the 2026 cycle, and all U.S. House seats including the district serving the area, currently portions of Congressional District 6 and District 25 subject to redistricting. All 31 Texas State Senate seats are elected on staggered terms with half up every two years, and all 150 Texas House seats will be on the ballot. County voters will also elect the County Judge, County Commissioners, Sheriff, County Clerk, District Clerk, County Attorney, Tax Assessor-Collector, and various precinct-level positions such as Justices of the Peace and Constables. The city's municipal elections will occur in May 2027, not November 2026. Voters should verify their registration status and precinct assignment well before election day. Texas offers limited absentee voting by mail compared to some states. To vote by mail, voters must meet specific criteria: be 65 years or older, have a disability or illness preventing in-person voting, be confined in jail but otherwise eligible, or be absent from the county during the entire early voting period and on Election Day. Applications for mail ballots must be submitted to the Ellis County Elections Administrator by the deadline, typically 11 days before Election Day for regular mail ballot requests. Early in-person voting is widely available at multiple locations throughout Ellis County for approximately two weeks before Election Day, providing convenient alternatives to polling place voting on Election Day itself.