With Thursday being the last day to register to vote, Amarillo voters and residents of surrounding areas in Potter and Randall counties are preparing for the upcoming May 3 election.
The Amarillo League of Women Voters will host two Nonpartisan Candidate Forums in April, which are also sponsored by Elevate Amarillo. The first forum, set for April 15, will feature the races for Amarillo Mayor and City Council. The April 22 forum will cover the races for the Amarillo College Board of Regents and Amarillo ISD Board of Trustees. Refreshments will be served at 5:30 p.m., with the forums beginning at 6 p.m. at the Virgil Patterson Auditorium inside Happy State Bank, located at 7th and Taylor in Amarillo. Both forums will be streamed on KFDA’s website, newschannel10.com. Attendees will be able to interact with the candidates, hear their responses to questions, and pick up a copy of the League’s 2025 Nonpartisan Voters Guide.
Those who will be attending in person must enter the Virgil Patterson Auditorium through the Happy State Bank parking garage, where there is ample covered parking. If you have any questions or concerns regarding parking or ADA accommodations, please reach out to Linda Vaughn at l.vaughnzee@gmail.com, and they will do their best to address any needs and concerns.
Here’s everything you need to know to register, vote early, and/or participate on Election Day.
Key dates
Note: These dates follow Texas election norms. Confirm all details with Potter County Elections (806-379-2299) or Randall County Elections (806-468-5510) closer to the election.
How to register to vote
To register, you must be a U.S. citizen, a resident of Amarillo (Potter or Randall County), at least 18 years old by Election Day, and not a convicted felon unless your sentence is completed or you have been pardoned.
Complete a Texas Voter Registration Application (available at votetexas.gov, libraries, post offices, or county offices).
Deadline:
Your voter registration must be received by Thursday, April 3 to vote in the May 3 election.
To check your registration status, visit votetexas.gov or contact your county office.
What kind of ID will I need to register or vote?
To register: When registering, you will need to provide your Texas driver’s license number, Texas personal ID number issued by DPS, or the last four digits of your Social Security number.
To vote in-person: You must present one of these valid forms of photo ID:
If your ID expired within the last four years, it is still acceptable for voting. If you are 70 or older, you can use your ID regardless of its expiration date.
If you do not have one of these forms of ID, you can still vote with a secondary form of identification (e.g., utility bill, bank statement) and must sign a “Reasonable Impediment Declaration” form explaining why you couldn’t obtain a photo ID.
Voting options
In-person early voting
Election Day voting
Voting by mail
To apply for a ballot by mail (ABBM):
Deadline for ABBM Submission: April 22
Note: Do not mail, fax, or email completed applications to the Secretary of State’s office. Always send them to your county’s early voting clerk.
What if you don’t have 1 of the 7 acceptable forms of voter ID?
If you cannot reasonably obtain one of the acceptable forms of photo ID, you can still vote by presenting a secondary form of ID (e.g., utility bill, bank statement) and completing a “Reasonable Impediment Declaration” form.
What if you’re a voter with special needs?
A person of your choice or an election worker can assist you at the polls, but that person cannot be your employer, your union officer, or someone who represents your employer or union.
If you’re physically unable to enter the polling location, you can vote curbside. Contact your county elections office to arrange curbside voting if necessary.
Candidates and offices on the May 2025 ballot
Amarillo Mayor
Amarillo City Council
Place 1
Place 3
Place 4
Amarillo ISD
River Road ISD
Amarillo College Board of Regents
City of Canyon and Canyon ISD Both the City of Canyon and Canyon ISD will not have elections for the May 3, 2025 election due to no opposing candidates.
Questions? Contact Your County Elections Office:
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: May 2025 Election Day reminders: Last day to register to vote is Thursday
Reporting by Michael Cuviello, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
