Westlake, Texas Public Records

Texas residents register to vote online through the Texas Secretary of State website at www.votetexas.gov, by mail using printable applications, or in person at the Denton County elections office or various government offices. Voter registration applications must be postmarked or submitted at least 30 days before an election. The state requires voters to present one of seven approved photo IDs at the polls, including Texas driver's license, election identification certificate, U.S. Passport, military ID, or citizenship certificate with photo. The Town of Westlake holds municipal elections on the uniform election date in May of odd-numbered years for Town Council positions and Mayor. The next municipal election is scheduled for May 2025, when voters will decide contested races for council seats with staggered terms. The town's website at www.westlaketx.com posts candidate information, ballot language for local propositions, and election results. The community operates under a council-manager form of government with a mayor and six council members serving staggered three-year terms. For local residents, polling place assignments can be found on the Denton County Elections website at www.votedenton.gov using the "Find Your Polling Place" tool, which requires entering a residential address. Early voting locations are published before each election, typically including the main Denton County Elections office and several branch locations across the county for voter convenience. Texas election records that are public include voter registration lists (available for purchase by registered voters and candidates for legitimate purposes), campaign finance reports filed by candidates and political committees (searchable at www.ethics.state.tx.us for state-level races and through county clerks for local races), candidate applications and filings, and precinct-level election results. The Denton County Elections Administration publishes unofficial results on election night and official canvassed results after certification. In the November 2024 presidential election, Denton County reported approximately 62% voter turnout among registered voters, with over 380,000 ballots cast from Denton County's growing population. The county has trended competitive in recent elections, with suburban growth changing historical voting patterns. Looking ahead to November 3, 2026, voters in the town and across Denton County will decide several significant races. Texas does not hold gubernatorial elections in 2026 (the next Governor's race is 2026), but voters will elect all 150 members of the Texas House of Representatives and half of the 31-member Texas Senate for their respective districts. Local voters participate in state legislative districts drawn after the 2020 census. All countywide offices including County Judge, Sheriff, District Attorney, County Clerk, District Clerk, Tax Assessor-Collector, County Commissioners (for applicable precincts), Constables, and Justices of the Peace appear on the 2026 ballot as these are four-year terms coinciding with gubernatorial cycles. One of Texas's U.S. Senate seats is up for election in 2026 (the Class II seat currently held by John Cornyn), making it a high-profile race. Judicial positions including District Court judges and County Court at Law judges also appear on the ballot. Residents may see local ballot propositions for town ordinances, bond elections, or other municipal matters if placed by the Town Council. Texas offers limited mail-in voting compared to many states. Absentee voting by mail is restricted to voters who are 65 or older, disabled, out of the county during the early voting period and on election day, or confined in jail but eligible to vote. Applications for mail ballots (Application for Ballot by Mail, ABBM) must be submitted to the Denton County Elections Administration and received (not postmarked) by the deadline, typically 11 days before election day. The state does not offer no-excuse absentee voting or permanent absentee status for most voters. Instead, it provides generous early voting periods, typically 12 days for general elections including two weekends, allowing in-person voting at any early voting location in Denton County. Election day voting requires voters to cast ballots at their assigned precinct polling place. Completed mail ballots must be received (not postmarked) by 7:00 PM on election day to count, so voters are encouraged to mail ballots well in advance or deliver them in person to the elections office.