Katy and Fulshear voters must register by Monday, Oct. 5, to cast ballots in the Nov. 3 midterm election.

The ballot includes the Fort Bend County judge race, a U.S. Senate contest and the governor's race. Registration applications must be postmarked by Oct. 5, according to the Texas Tribune's voter guide. Voters can pick up forms at county voter registrar offices, some post offices and government buildings, or print one from the Texas Secretary of State's website.

Residents can check their status at the state's "Am I Registered?" portal online. One Katy-area resident reported on Reddit that their registration was suspended for 21 days after moving from Harris County to Fort Bend County in August, according to Yahoo News. The resident urged others to verify their status well before the deadline.

Key dates

  • Monday, Oct. 5: Last day to register to vote or update an address
  • Monday, Oct. 19 – Friday, Oct. 30: Early voting
  • Friday, Oct. 23: Deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot (applications must be received, not just postmarked, by the county early voting clerk)
  • Tuesday, Nov. 3: Election Day, polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Voters in line by 7 p.m. will be allowed to vote. Mail-in ballots must reach the county by Election Day. Ballots postmarked by 7 p.m. on Nov. 3 will be counted if the county receives them by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 4, according to the Texas Tribune.

Fort Bend County judge

The race closest to home for many Katy and Fulshear residents is the Fort Bend County judge contest between interim County Judge Daniel Wong, the Republican nominee, and Commissioner Dexter McCoy, the Democratic nominee.

Wong was appointed to the seat in April by a visiting Galveston County district court judge. Former County Judge KP George was convicted of federal money laundering in June, Houston Public Media reported. Wong is expected to remain in the role until voters decide on Nov. 3, while a legal challenge to his appointment plays out in district court.

"I believe we can do better for Fort Bend County taxpayers," Wong said at the Sept. 10 Commissioners Court meeting where the county's $841 million budget was approved.

Statewide races

The U.S. Senate seat held by Sen. John Cornyn is open. Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Republican nominee, faces state Rep. James Talarico, the Democratic nominee, according to CW39 Houston.

Gov. Greg Abbott is seeking re-election against Democratic nominee state Rep. Gina Hinojosa of Austin. All 38 Texas U.S. House seats are also on the ballot under newly redrawn congressional maps, along with races for lieutenant governor, attorney general, comptroller and other statewide offices, according to FOX 7 Austin.

What you need to vote

Texas requires one of seven approved photo IDs to vote in person: a Texas driver's license, Texas Election Identification Certificate (EIC), Texas personal ID card, Texas handgun license, U.S. military ID with photo, U.S. citizenship certificate with photo, or U.S. passport.

Voting by mail is limited to Texans who are 65 or older, have a disability or illness, will be away from their county during early voting and on Election Day, expect to give birth within three weeks of Election Day, or are confined in jail but otherwise eligible.

Fort Bend County early voting locations and hours had not been posted as of Sept. 15. The county elections office lists updates at fortbendcountytx.gov/elections.