Committees
2026 Voter Information Presented by the Social Justice Committee
Voting is both a civic responsibility and an expression of our Jewish values. At Congregation Beth Israel, our Social Justice Committee, in consultation with Rabbi David Lyon, is committed to helping our congregation become informed, engaged participants in the democratic process.
For generations, the Jewish tradition has emphasized learning, asking thoughtful questions, and taking responsibility for the well-being of our communities. In that spirit, we have gathered the resources below to help congregants understand the voting process, stay informed about upcoming elections, and recognize the importance of every vote.
Congregation Beth Israel does not endorse candidates or political parties, nor do we tell anyone how to vote. Rather, we encourage each person to thoughtfully consider issues that matter most to them, their families, and the broader community, and to exercise their right to vote in every election.
From the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ): What’s So Jewish About Voting?
As the Union for Reform Judaism teaches, voting is more than a civic responsibility—it is an expression of our Jewish values. Throughout Jewish history, rabbis and sages have regarded participation in public life as a mitzvah, a sacred obligation.
Our tradition teaches that we are partners with God in the ongoing work of tikkun olam—repairing the world. As we pray in the Aleinu, l’takein olam b’malchut Shaddai (“to repair the world under God’s sovereignty”), we are reminded of our responsibility to pursue justice, care for the stranger, the widow, and the orphan, and help build a more just and compassionate society.
The Torah further commands us, “Choose life, so that you and your children may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19). Choosing life requires action. In a democratic society, voting is one of the most meaningful ways we can shape the kind of community and future we hope to create.
Our tradition also teaches, “A ruler is not to be appointed unless the community is first consulted” (Babylonian Talmud, Berachot 55a). This enduring ethic of civic participation has inspired Jews throughout history to engage thoughtfully in the democratic process.
2026 Mid-Term Election: Key Dates
– Monday, October 5: Last day to register to vote
– Friday, October 23: Last day to apply for ballot by mail (it must be received by this date)
– October 19-30: Early voting
– Tuesday, November 3: Mid-term election
– Tuesday, November 3: Last day for voting clerk to receive your ballot by mail
From the Harris County Clerk’s Office:
– Early Vote Centers will be open from Monday, October 19–Friday, October 30 (Mon-Sat: 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.; Sun: 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.).
– The deadline to apply for a mail ballot is October 23. Click here for the application. Please fill it out, print it, and mail it to our office before the deadline.
– Vote Centers will accept voters from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3, Election Day.
Who is Eligible to Vote by Mail?: Texas Vote by Mail Rules Have Changed
In Texas, you may vote by mail if you:
– Are 65 years of age or older
– Have a sickness or disability
– Will be outside your county for the entire voting period (including Early Voting and Election Day)
– Are confined in jail but otherwise eligible to vote
– Are expected to give birth within three weeks before or after Election Day
Annual Applications to Vote by Mail Are Now Required
If you vote by mail because you are 65 or older or have a disability, you must now submit a new Application for Ballot by Mail (ABBM) every calendar year. This is a significant change. In the past, voters age 65 and older only needed to apply once and would automatically continue receiving mail ballots for future elections. A law passed during the 2025 Texas legislative session ended that practice. By selecting “Annual Application” on your ABBM, you will receive mail ballots for every election held during that calendar year for which you are eligible. For the upcoming midterm election, your application must be received by October 23.
If You Are Voting by Mail for Another Reason
If you are voting by mail because you will be out of the county, are confined in jail, or are expecting to give birth within three weeks before or after Election Day, you must submit a new application for each election.
Mailing Your Ballot
Your completed ballot must be postmarked by the deadline of 7:00 PM on November 3. Because of changes in U.S. Postal Service processing, placing your ballot in a mailbox on November 3 does not guarantee it will receive a postmark that day. If you are mailing your ballot on November 3, it is strongly recommended that you take it to a U.S. Post Office and ask a postal employee to hand-postmark it before mailing.
Check the Status of Your Mail-In Ballot
Once you’ve sent your ballot by mail to your county’s early voting clerk, you can check the status of your mail-in ballot through the Ballot by Mail Tracker, available on the Texas Secretary of State’s ‘My Voter Portal’.
To track your mail-in ballot, you must enter the following information:
• First Name
• Last Name
• Date of Birth
• The last 4 digits of your Social Security Number
• Your Driver’s License or Department of Public Safety Personal ID number
Curbside Voting
Accessibility: If a voter is physically unable to enter the Vote Center, they can request assistance in casting their vote. An Election Officer can bring a ballot to the entrance of the Vote Center or a car parked at the curbside. After the voter marks the ballot using a Duo-Go device, they can give it to the Election Officer, who will place it in the scanner. Alternatively, at the voter’s request, a companion may hand the voter a ballot and deposit it on their behalf.
Important Tip: In general, you can vote curbside during the Early Voting period (from the 17th day before Election Day to the 4th day before Election Day for most elections) or on Election Day itself. For a May Uniform Election date, resulting Runoff Election, or some Special elections, the early voting period is from the 12th day before Election Day until the 4th day before Election Day.
These accommodations are in place to ensure that all eligible voters have equal access to the voting process, regardless of their physical abilities.
Websites with Non-Partisan Information:
– AIPAC
– League of Women Voters: Your guide to being a Houston voter
Additional Web Resources:
– Voter Registration Application
– Check your voter registration
– Find a polling location
– Follow the election results
– How to become a volunteer voter registrar
– Sample ballot
– How to Vote
Relevant Endorsements:
– Houston Bar Poll for Judicial Races
– State Bar of Texas
– Houston Chronicle Endorsements (usually comes out right before early voting): Look under “opinion” Houston Chronicle | Breaking Houston News, Weather, Sports & Texas News
– Harris County Democratic Party
– Harris County Republican Party
General Information:
The November 3, 2026 election is called the “Mid-term Election.” The Governor, statewide offices, judicial both state and county judicial elections are held on even years.
– Every other even year, the “General Election” is when the statewide, judicial and Presidential elections are held.
– When voting in the even years, these elections are partisan. For the primary held in March, one must vote in either the Republican OR Democratic primary; however, in November, the voter may select candidates in either party or an additional party such as Libertarian.
– Odd year elections for the most part (unless “special” elections) are all non partisan –Mayor, City Council, School Board, etc.
– One may vote at any voting center for early voting and actual election day.