It's National Voter Registration Day. Are you registered to vote in Texas? How to check

Sept. 17 is National Voter Registration Day. Whether you're a first-time voter or you've participated in several elections, now is the time to make sure you're eligible to do so.

Millions of people are either not registered to vote or have outdated registration details, which hinders their ability to participate in both local and national elections. Established in 2012, National Voter Registration Day aims to help citizens update their voter information. This annual event sees increased participation during presidential election years and has made a measurable difference in civic engagement.

After global mega-pop-star Taylor Swift urged her fans to register last week, 337,826 people within 24 hours followed her link to the vote.gov website, although it is unknown how many completed their registrations.

Here is how Texans can make sure they're registered to vote.

When is the general election 2024?

The general election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 5.

When is the deadline to register to vote in Texas?

The deadline to register to vote in Texas is Oct. 7 by person and by mail.

How can I register to vote online?

Here is how you can register to vote right now.

• Visit Vote.gov , the official voter registration domain.
• Select the state you live in. You will be directed to your state’s registration website.
• From there, you can input your information to register for the first time, update your voter registration, or confirm your registration status.

More: Are you still on Texas voter rolls? Do you need to register? Here's how to check

How do I check my voter registration in Texas?

Voter rolls are updated on a regular basis and if your status has changed, you haven't voted in two general elections and you have not responded to flyers verifying your address, you might have been removed .

Nearly 1.1 million people were removed from the Texas voter rolls since 2021.

Are you already registered to vote? You can verify your voter registration status on the Texas secretary of state’s website. Submit the form to see your voter status, address, county, voter ID number, political party and your voter status. "Active" means you are eligible to vote.

What if I moved recently?

If you’re already registered to vote in Texas, you can update your mailing address online with the Texas secretary of state’s office: txapps.texas.gov/tolapp/sos/SOSACManager . Make sure you do so before Oct. 7.

Who is eligible to vote in Texas?

If you're a Texan looking to vote in the Nov. 5 election, you need to be sure you meet the registration requirements.

Here is what you will need:

• Be a citizen of the United States.
• Be a resident of the county where the registration application is made.
• Be at least 17 years and 10 months old (you must be 18 to vote on Election Day).
• Have not been convicted of a felony or, if you have been convicted of a felony, you have completed your sentence, probation, and parole.
• Have not been declared by a court exercising probate jurisdiction to be either totally mentally incapacitated or partially mentally incapacitated without the right to vote.

When does early voting start in Texas?

Early voting in Texas is from Oct. 21 to Nov. 1.

Texas election dates and deadlines

• Deadline to register to vote in Texas: Oct. 7
• Deadline to apply for a ballot by mail: Oct. 25
• First day of early voting by personal appearance: Oct. 21
• Last day of early voting by personal appearance: Nov. 1
• Last day for a county to receive a mailed ballot: Nov. 5 (Election Day) or Wednesday, Nov. 6 if postmarked
• Election Day: Nov. 5, 2024

What's on the ballot for Texans?

Along with the presidential race, eligible Texans can also vote for various federal, state, and local officials seeking office.

• U.S Senator (the seat currently held by Ted Cruz)
• 1 of 3 Railroad Commissioners
• 15 State Senators
• 7 State Board of Education members
• 3 members of the Texas Supreme Court
• 3 members of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
• 5 chief Justices and various justices for Texas Courts of Appeals
• Various district judges, including on criminal and family courts
• County Courts at Law
• Justices of the Peace
• District Attorneys
• County Attorneys
• Sheriffs
• Constables
• Tax Assessor-Collectors

— American-Statesman columnist Bridget Grumet and USA TODAY Network reporter C.A. Bridges contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: It's National Voter Registration Day. Are you registered to vote in Texas? How to check