The 2013 Constitutional Election is fast approaching.  Early voting will take place October 21 through November 1.  Election Day voting will be on November 5, 2013.  If you have not registered to vote, you can find out how to do so here. The last day to register to vote in the Constitutional Election is October 7.

Proper identification is required for the upcoming Constitutional Election. Now until November 2 the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is offering Saturday hours at nearly 50 driver license offices from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. as part of an ongoing effort to provide Election Identification Certificates (EICs) to Texans needing to meet this new requirement. The EIC is free of charge to qualifying applicants and is valid for six years. During these Saturday hours, residents will ONLY be permitted to apply for EICs, but can apply for an EIC at all Texas driver license offices during regular business hours.  Here is a list of DPS offices that have these special Saturday hours:

http://www.dps.texas.gov/DriverLicense/documents/openCtyOfcs.pdf#sthash.Wl3yCwHS.dpuf

To avoid delays or complications, DPS urges potential applicants to make sure they have the necessary documentation before arriving at the office.

To qualify for an EIC, an applicant must:

• Bring documentation to the office to verify U.S. citizenship
• Bring documentation to the office to verify Identity
• Be eligible to vote in Texas (Bring a valid voter registration card or submit a voter registration application through the Texas Department of Public Safety at the office)
• Be a Texas resident
• Be 17 years and 10 months or older

If an applicant already has any of the following documents, they are NOT eligible to receive an EIC:

• Texas driver license – unexpired or expired less than 60 days at the time of voting
• Texas personal identification card – unexpired or expired less than 60 days at the time of voting
• U.S. passport book or card – unexpired or expired less than 60 days at the time of voting
• Texas concealed handgun license – unexpired or expired less than 60 days at the time of voting
• U.S. Military identification with photo – unexpired or expired less than 60 days at the time of voting
• U.S. Citizenship Certificate or Certificate of Naturalization with photo

For more information on the requirements, exemptions and process for obtaining an EIC, please visit:http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/DriverLicense/electionID.htm.

For a list of offices that will be open on Saturdays to issue EICs, visithttp://www.dps.texas.gov/DriverLicense/documents/openCtyOfcs.pdf.

For more information on voting in Texas, visit the Secretary of State’s website: www.votetexas.gov.