Guide to the 2026 Midterm Elections in Tarrant County

Midterm election season is right around the corner. As we approach November, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind when preparing to vote. 

As I mentioned in my previous article about the primary elections, in Texas, the midterm election means many politicians’ terms are over, and the residents of the state will need to make decisions on who gets to represent them next. Most notably, the Texas governor seat is up, along with a seat in the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives, along with other state and local offices.

Whether or not you voted in the primary elections, or ever, it is time to make your voice heard! 

If you’re not already registered to vote, the good news is you can still submit a request for voter registration; you’ll just have to make it quick!

The last day to register to vote for the Texas midterm elections in 2026 is October 5. Texas voter registration is only done by mail, so you’ll want to request an application as soon as possible. 

If you are registered to vote, that’s great. I still recommend checking your voter registration to make sure your personal information is up to date, especially if you recently moved or changed names.

What are Midterm Elections and why are they important?

Midterm elections, like any election, are important because they give residents the opportunity to make their voices heard through state and local representatives. Especially with local elections, it is important to vote because as little as one vote can make a difference. 

This year, our midterm Election Day is on Tuesday, November 3. 

In Tarrant County, these elections are extremely important as the seat for County Judge is on the ballot. The county judge presides over the commissioners court, which oversees the county budget, sets tax rates, and manages infrastructure. While these issues may seem unimportant to students and young adults, these decisions matter and affect your lives. It is important to vote and elect someone who will best represent us in the rooms where decisions are made

Who’s on the Ballot?

As I mentioned, many offices will be up for election during the midterms. For a personalized list of who is on your ballot, check out the Tarrant County Voter Lookup website to download a sample ballot. 

Among the most notable offices are:

• United States Senator 

• Governor
• Lieutenant Governor
• Attorney General
• County Commissioner
• County Judge

Make a Plan

Now that you can vote and you know what offices are up for election, it’s time to make an Election Day plan. 

Before you get to your polling location, you should know who you’re voting for. In Texas, cellphones or other devices are not allowed inside the polling location, so it is best to bring a paper list with you of your choices. 

In terms of research, there are 3 resources I found to be valuable as I was filling in my ballot:

1. Ballotpedia: a general hub for election information; it can be as specific as municipal elections and as broad as federal elections. 
2. TikTok: while I would not utilize this as my only source of research, some users provide helpful breakdowns on politicians’ policies or background.
3. Google: is best for general questions and to research candidate information. Like “What does a County Commissioner do?” or “Who is running for U.S. Senator in Texas?”

Because it is a big election, this research may take a couple of hours, so give yourself enough time to find the information you need. These are important issues, so I encourage you to not procrastinate. 

I understand this part of the voting process can be tedious, but it will be worth it in the end!

As part of your plan, you can use the Tarrant County Voter Lookup website to find the nearest polling location to you.

I strongly encourage you to vote early, Monday, October 19 to Friday, October 30, to avoid long wait times during Election Day at voting locations (because of the elimination of several polling places in Tarrant County). 

Time to Vote!!

Voting doesn’t have to be this scary, dreadful thing young adults don’t want to participate in. It should be something you look forward to – to have your voice heard. The best way to make voting fun is to find a voting buddy and make a meetup out of it! 

It can feel frustrating, especially for young adults, to see elected officials make decisions we do not align with. That is why we need to make our voices heard through voting and elsewhere. 

We are not helpless. We can do so much. 

We can canvass for candidates, attend peaceful protests, donate to campaigns or nonprofits, communicate with our elected officials and raise concerns, be a poll worker, share a post on Instagram, or write an article about it!

All of this while taking care of yourself. Joy and creativity are the greatest forms of resistance. So take care of yourself in the way you know best. 

What matters is that we fight as a community. We are stronger together; when we fight, we win. 

Send this to your friends, make a plan, and go out there and make your voice heard!

Here’s a short version with links that might be useful to have and share.

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• college
• elections
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• politics