One Day Left: Register to Vote in Texas Before Monday’s Deadline
Monday, October 5, is the last day to register to vote in Texas for the November 3 general election.
If you haven’t registered, or aren’t sure you still are, the clock is nearly out.
How to Make the Deadline
To register, you must be a U.S. citizen, a resident of your county, and at least 18 years old by Election Day. Applications are available at VoteTexas.gov or through your county voter registrar. Mailed applications must be postmarked on or before October 5, and the Texas Secretary of State suggests asking for a manual postmark at a USPS retail counter to be safe. Already registered? Use the state’s “Am I Registered?” tool to confirm your information is current, especially if you’ve moved.
Why Your Vote Matters This Year
Texas is home to one of the most closely watched contests in the country: the U.S. Senate race between Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton and Democratic state Rep. James Talarico. Polling since the May runoff has shown a tight race. A June Texas Politics Project survey had Paxton ahead 43% to 42%, while several summer polls showed Talarico ahead by five points or fewer, all near or within margins of error.
Texas pollsters have noted the competitive numbers.
The Texas Politics Project‘s research director pointed out that Beto O’Rourke lost the 2018 Senate race by only about two and a half points, so a close finish should be expected. Talarico is seeking to become the first Democrat elected to the Senate from Texas in more than 30 years, while Paxton is aiming to hold the seat for Republicans.
When a statewide race is this close, turnout, not just persuasion, can decide the outcome. Texas has long had lower turnout than many states, which means a modest number of newly registered or newly motivated voters could matter. Polls also show many independents still undecided, making them a group both campaigns are courting.
Key Dates
- October 5: Voter registration deadline
- October 19–30: Early voting
- October 23: Deadline for your mail ballot application to be received
- November 3: Election Day
Remember to bring an approved photo ID when you vote.
Don’t Wait
Missing Monday’s deadline means sitting out this election. Register or verify your status today at VoteTexas.gov, then make a plan to vote, early or on Election Day.
Sources:
- Texas Secretary of State, “Texas Secretary of State Reminds Voters: October 5 Deadline to Register to Vote in November General Election,” September 28, 2026. https://www.sos.state.tx.us/about/newsreleases/2026/092826.shtml
- KERA News, “Ken Paxton and James Talarico are neck and neck in U.S. Senate race, new poll finds,” June 23, 2026. https://www.keranews.org/text/politics/2026-06-23/ken-paxton-and-james-talarico-are-neck-and-neck-in-u-s-senate-race-new-poll-finds
- Texas Public Radio, “Talarico leads Paxton by 5 points in new poll of Texas’ U.S. Senate race,” July 28, 2026. https://www.tpr.org/text/government-politics/2026-07-28/talarico-leads-paxton-by-5-points-in-new-poll-of-texas-u-s-senate-race
- ABC affiliate report, “New polls show Talarico leads Paxton in Texas Senate race.” https://abcnews4.com/news/nation-world/new-polls-show-talarico-leads-paxton-in-texas-senate-race
- Texas Farm Bureau, voter registration and ID guidance. https://texasfarmbureau.org/?p=50679
Muddy conditions at ACL Fest’s Great Lawn at Zilker Park are drawing attention from festivalgoers and City Council Member Ryan Alter.
In a Saturday statement, Alter called the Great Lawn a public asset that must be shielded from further damage.
He added that Austinites deserve to know how festival organizers plan to restore the grounds once the second weekend of ACL wraps up.
David Weinberg is a candidate for City Council in Alter’s District 5.
To give the grounds time to dry and keep fans safe from deep mud and standing water, festival organizers pushed back Saturday’s opening gates to 2 p.m. and reshuffled the performance schedule.
Reaction online ran the gamut from outrage to calls for other options for the annual event.
The music festival can alter the lawn and underlying soil, often resulting in long-term effects, like limited growth potential and soil erosion, that extend well beyond the duration of the event. (KUT 90.5)
There is an agreement in place for ACL Fest with the city to protect Zilker that involves remediating the property according to specifications provided by Austin Parks and Recreation, paying for any damages to property or plant life, protecting the park grounds and trees, and following a specific plan for crossing grass.
Day 3 of the festival’s first weekend begins this afternoon.
- Gates Open: 12:00 PM (Noon)
- First Acts Begin: 12:45 PM
(Note: Shuttle service from Sand Beach Park begins running at 11:30 AM).
A stretch of U.S. 183 near Austin-Bergstrom International Airport was shut down in both directions as officials responded to a serious collision early Saturday.
The sheriff’s office later confirmed that a Travis County Sheriff’s Deputy vehicle was one of the vehicles involved.
Lawmakers spent 12 hours Wednesday scrutinizing “prosecutorial integrity” during a House Committee on Governmental Oversight hearing. State officials singled out Garza, accusing him of selectively enforcing laws and failing to carry out his duties under Texas statute. (KUT 90.5)
Austin Independent School District leaders said hundreds of job seekers turned out for a district-wide career fair Saturday as the district works to fill about 70 open positions in critical support roles.
Continued ICE activity was reported Saturday in the Rutland, Parkfield and North Lamar area. A transport van was also seen in the area of Kramer and Metric.
Via Reporte Austin:
“An arrest occurred in 183 and Jamestown, near N. Lamar. Also a report that (Saturday) morning three people were detained who were walking or sitting on a bus stop on North Lamar, something that is not common.”
Austin leaders are continuing to prepare for the arrival of new types of aircraft like air taxis that are being deployed in skies across the country. (Community Impact)
WEATHER
SATURDAY’S HIGH / LOW TEMPERATURES
AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CAMP MABRY
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
Hundreds of demonstrators marched through San Antonio’s East Side on Saturday morning to protest against White House plans to open a massive Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center there. (San Antonio Current)
President Donald Trump is set to make his second trip to Texas in under a week, heading to San Antonio on Wednesday for a high-profile midterm campaign rally that highlights the Lone Star State’s pivotal role in determining the balance of power in Washington.
The visit to the Freeman Coliseum comes right on the heels of the president’s stop in North Texas, where he headlined an economic event at a manufacturing facility in Denton while boosting Republican candidates.
The rapid succession of visits underscores the growing national stakes of the Texas political landscape, particularly the marquee U.S. Senate race featuring Republican nominee Ken Paxton, alongside crucial South Texas congressional battles that both parties view as essential to controlling Capitol Hill.
U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro and local leaders are calling for more accountability around ICE operations and a proposed East Side warehouse.
Putting party unity above personal betrayal, Texas State Sen. Angela Paxton has released a television advertisement backing her estranged husband, U.S. Senate candidate Ken Paxton.
Meanwhile, the two sides continue to take to social media to solidify their positions.
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz appeared on CBS News and offered his take on the race:
Paxton and Talarico lay out competing approaches to affordability, border security and workforce needs while sharing the personal experiences that shaped their views on health care. Plus, both candidates make their case to undecided Texans as the race for U.S. Senate heads toward November.
A closer look as Republicans in Texas start a campaign blitz. Plus, the mayor and city manager of Dallas sit down for a joint interview.
Republican political consultant Vinny Minchillo, who’s worked on countless campaigns, says there are a million ways to win an election, but losing candidates do ten things. And he’s laid it all out in a new book, essential reading for first time candidates, or voters wanting a peak behind the political curtain. Negative ads. Debates. Endorsements. Fundraising. Polling.
In this episode of Y’all-itics, Minchillo discusses how each can impact an election while having a cold one with the Jasons at Peticolas Brewing Company. The veteran politico will even explain why he hates those darn yard signs so much, and how they can be a drag on a campaign.
Texas officials told lawmakers it can take about 36 hours to put every responding agency on one communications plan. The challenge is not only buying radios; it is deciding who sets standards, pays for the system, and trains responders to use it
(Episode from October 1, 2026)
An explosion of data centers being constructed across the U.S. is moving forward amid growing opposition from communities.
The data centers fuel an increasingly digital way of life, including the rise of artificial intelligence, but many are concerned about their environmental impacts and how they might transform the cities and towns where they’re built.
A look at the many factors at play, including national security and domestic energy concerns, as data centers sweep the nation:
DIESEL PRICES
AAA GAS PRICES
SPORTS
NFL: Bragging rights across the Lone Star State are on the line early this season as the Dallas Cowboys head south to NRG Stadium today for a high-stakes Week 4 Governor’s Cup matchup against the Houston Texans.
Both squads desperately need a reboot following rough starts to the year: Dallas (1-2) looks to bounce back from last week’s tight 34–31 international loss to the Ravens in Rio, while C.J. Stroud and the winless Texans (0-3) are searching for their first victory of the season in front of a rowdy home crowd.
Kickoff is set for 12:00 PM CT on FOX.
NHL: Steven Stamkos and Nils Hoglander scored power-play goals in the first period, Juuse Saros made 29 saves and the Nashville Predators beat the Dallas Stars 2-1 on Saturday night.
The Stars start the season 0-2. (Associated Press)
NEXT GAME: MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2026
Join us as a Michelin-starred BBQ chef visits Hoover’s Cooking in Austin during its final weekend of dine-in service. We’re celebrating Texas comfort food, nearly three decades of community, and the legacy of chef and owner Hoover Alexander.
Since opening in 1998, this Black-owned East Austin institution brought people together over scratch-made meals, affordable comfort food, and genuine hospitality. Hoover created a welcoming place for people from different backgrounds to share a table, and helped shape the soul of Austin’s food scene.
This visit celebrates the food and the man behind it, honoring everything Hoover’s meant to the community as its dining room served its final weekend.
