Waxahachie, Texas Public Records

The Elections Administrator works closely with the Texas Secretary of State and provides voters with sample ballots, polling location information, and election calendars. Texas residents can register to vote online through the Texas Secretary of State's website at www.texas.gov, or by completing a paper application available at the Elections Administrator's office, libraries, Department of Public Safety offices, and various state agencies. The deadline to register is 30 days before any election. Applicants must be U.S. Citizens, Texas residents, at least 18 years old by election day, not finally convicted of a felony unless they've completed their sentence, parole, and probation, and not declared mentally incapacitated by a court. Valid identification includes a Texas driver's license or personal ID number; applicants without either can provide the last four digits of their Social Security number. Once registered, voters remain on the rolls unless they move, die, or are removed for felony conviction or mental incapacity determination. The state doesn't have party registration, voters may participate in either party primary but not both during the same election cycle. Municipal elections for mayor and city council positions follow their own schedule in Waxahachie. City elections typically occur on the uniform election date in May of odd-numbered years, with the most recent municipal election held in May 2023. The next city elections are scheduled for May 2025 for certain council seats and May 2027 for others. Candidate filing periods occur approximately 78 to 71 days before election day. Local ballot measures, bond propositions, and charter amendments may also appear on municipal ballots. Information about city candidates, filing requirements, campaign finance reports, and local propositions is available through the City Secretary's office at City Hall (972-937-7330) and the Ellis County Elections office. Residents can look up their assigned polling place through the Ellis County Elections website's polling location tool or the Texas Secretary of State's website at www.texas.gov by entering their residential address. During early voting periods, which run from the 17th through 4th day before election day for most elections, the county typically offers multiple early voting locations including the main Elections office and branch locations in other Ellis County communities. Voters may use any early voting location in Ellis County during this period. On election day itself, voters must cast ballots at their assigned precinct polling place. Election records that are public in Texas include voter registration lists, which are available for purchase for political purposes under Texas Election Code Section 18.066. Campaign finance reports filed by candidates and political committees can be searched at www.ethics.state.tx.us for state-level candidates or are maintained by local filing authorities for local candidates. Other public records include candidate applications and filings, precinct-level election results, and election audit materials. The Ellis County Elections website publishes unofficial results on election night and official canvassed results after certification. Historical election data is maintained by the Elections Administrator and can be requested under the Texas Public Information Act. The county has historically leaned Republican in recent election cycles, though competitive races generate substantial interest across party lines. Precinct-level results showed variation between the city's urban core and surrounding rural areas. While 2026 is not a presidential year, Texas voters will elect all statewide executive offices including Governor (Greg Abbott's current term expires January 2027), Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Comptroller, Land Commissioner, Agriculture Commissioner, and Railroad Commissioners. All 150 seats in the Texas House of Representatives and 15 or 16 of the 31 Texas Senate seats, depending on the cycle, will be on the ballot, including districts representing Ellis County. No U.S. Senate seat from Texas is scheduled for election in 2026 (next in 2024 and 2028). At the Ellis County level, voters will elect county-wide positions such as County Judge, County Commissioners from certain precincts (four-year staggered terms), County Clerk, District Clerk, County Attorney, Sheriff, Tax Assessor-Collector, County Treasurer, and various precinct-level positions like Justice of the Peace and Constables. No municipal offices will appear on Voters may also see state constitutional amendments, local bond propositions, or special district measures. Primary elections for the 2026 general election will occur in March 2026, determining party nominees. Texas offers limited mail-in (absentee) voting. Under Texas Election Code Chapter 82, only specific categories of voters qualify for mail ballots: those 65 years or older, those who will be out of the county during the entire early voting period and on election day, those confined in jail but otherwise eligible, or those with a sickness or physical condition preventing in-person voting. Mail ballot applications must be submitted to the Ellis County Early Voting Clerk (the Elections Administrator) and received by the 11th day before election day for regular applications. Completed mail ballots must be received, not just postmarked, by 7:00 PM on election day or, if mailed from outside the U.S, the 5th day after election day. Texas does not offer universal vote-by-mail or no-excuse absentee voting. Military and overseas voters have additional options under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA).