Revision 21-4; Effective December 1, 2021
HHSC must offer applicants and recipients an opportunity to register to vote at application, redetermination and any time the person has a change of address.
Form H0025, HHSC Application for Voter Registration, is included with each application and redetermination packet. Additionally, the Form H0025 is provided when a person reports a change of address. System-generated application and redetermination packets contain Form H0025.
If the person indicates they do not wish to register to vote, mail Form H1350, Opportunity to Register to Vote. Document that the person declined in the Texas Integrated Eligibility Redesign System (TIERS), Voter Registration Information section of the person Demographics — Citizen page. If the person returns Form H1350, sign and mark the Client Declined box in the Agency Use Only: Voter Registration Status section of Form H1350 and send the form for imaging.
Who Can Register to Vote
To register to vote, a person must be:
- a U.S. citizen; and
- at least 17 years and 10 months.
The opportunity to register to vote is not required if a person does not meet these two requirements.
Staff Requirements for Voter Registration
Staff must tell the person:
- HHSC offers the same help and services when aiding the person with voter registration activities as when helping them with agency forms. This can happen whether HHSC provides the service in the office, outside of the office or at the person's home.
- The decision to register or to decline to register to vote does not affect eligibility or benefit amount. HHSC will keep all voter registration information confidential and only use it for voter registration purposes.
- The person may decide to seek help from staff to fill out the voter registration application form. The person may also fill out the application form in private.
- The person may return the completed application form to:
- the Secretary of State (SOS), by mail using the postage-paid, self-addressed application form;
- the local voter registrar, by mail or in person; or
- the advisor.
- The person may ask more voter registration questions or file a voter registration complaint by contacting the Elections Division of the Secretary of State, P.O. Box 12060, Austin, TX 78711, 800-252-8683.
Staff must not:
- influence a person’s political preference or party registration;
- display any political preference or party affiliation;
- make any statement to discourage the person from registering to vote;
- make any statement to a person or take any action to make the person believe that a decision to register or not to register has any bearing on the availability of services or benefits; or
- pend the EDG or delay or deny benefits if the person fails or refuses to complete the voter registration information on any form, or fails to return Form H0025 or Form H1350.
Documentation
Document all actions taken to provide the person with an opportunity to register to vote at application, redetermination, and change of physical address in TIERS in the Voter Registration Information section of the person’s Demographics — Citizen page.