Early voting in Texas opens Monday, Oct. 19 and runs through Friday, Oct. 30, with Election Day set for Tuesday, Nov. 3. More than 18 million Texans are registered this cycle, roughly a million more than in 2022, and the registration deadline has already passed. If you’re registered, you’re clear to vote. The next date to circle is Oct. 23, the last day for ballot-by-mail applications to be received by your county elections office.

The ballot is deeper than most folks expect. Alongside the U.S. Senate race, Texas voters will decide governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, comptroller, land commissioner, agriculture commissioner, one railroad commission seat, 38 U.S. House races, all 150 Texas House members, 16 state senators, statewide judicial races, State Board of Education seats, and county officials. There are also local propositions, bonds, and tax measures, the items that most directly affect your property tax bill and your school district.

Turnout could be big. One elections administrator in Rockwall County is projecting 60 to 65 percent turnout, which would mean 40,000 to 50,000 voters in that county alone. He also pointed out that some voters just don’t trust the mail process, for a range of reasons, which is one more argument for early voting in person if you have the option.

So what’s your plan? Are you an early voter, a mail voter, or a show-up-on-November-3 voter?