What Waco voters need for the November 3, 2026 general election — official dates, tools, and offices only. Updated July 2026.
| Milestone | Date / rule |
|---|---|
| Voter-registration deadline | Monday, October 5, 2026 (statutory rule: 30 days before Election Day) |
| Early voting | Early voting by personal appearance: Monday, October 19 – Friday, October 30, 2026 (any early voting location in your county of registration) |
| Election Day | Tuesday, November 3, 2026 (polls per county hours) |
Confirm you are registered (and your address is current) with the official Texas tool:
Check your registration →Excuse required — you may vote by mail only if you: are 65 or older on Election Day; are sick or disabled; expect to give birth within 3 weeks before/after Election Day; will be out of your county during early voting and on Election Day; or are confined in jail/involuntary civil commitment. Application for a Ballot by Mail must be RECEIVED (not postmarked) by the early voting clerk by Friday, October 23, 2026.
McLennan County Elections Administrator (Elections Office) runs the election for Waco — polling places, sample ballots, and results. Participates in the Texas Countywide Polling Place Program (vote centers since the Nov 2014 general election); vote-center locations posted at mclennan.gov/383/Vote-CentersPolling-Locations.
McLennan County elections →Recent reporting and curated coverage across every beat we cover.
Search 567,859+ verified resources for food, healthcare, and housing — all 50 states, DC, and US territories. Free. A practical guide for Waco: pantries, SNAP, WIC, the 211 referral line, and how to use the free Feed America directory at feedam.org.
A 31-year-old man has been charged with manslaughter after he struck and killed a bicyclist Saturday morning in Brazos County.Charles Medina was arrested after the death of Hannah Rapp, 26, who was struck while cycling on FM 159, according to the Brazos County Sheriff's...
RV camps in Kerrville were destroyed by this week's flood. One local resident said her home was lost due to the recent floods. Kerrville received 19 to 20 inches of rain Uvalde received 10 to 28 inches of rainBROADCAST TRANSCRIPT:"I feel lost," said local Kerrville resident...
More than 30 teams competing in the 14U division from across Texas are facing off at Travis Fields in Bryan for the Alliance Fast Pitch Southern Championships, presented by Prime Sports. Alliance Fast Pitch Southern TournamentThe tournament brings together some of the top young...
Cameron Park Zoo's Kirk's dik-dik breeding pair, Hinata and Velcro, welcomed their fifth calf last weekThe male calf passed his 24-hour neonatal exam and is described by staff as energetic and curious. Animal care teams monitored the newborn continuously for 48 hours to ensure...
Temple residents gathered Saturday to collect signatures for a charter amendment that would make it easier to recall city leaders over data center approvals.WATCH the full story here: Temple residents rally against proposed data centersDozens of neighbors gathered outside the...
HEWITT, Texas (FOX 44) — The City of Hewitt has sat far below local, state, and national crime rates for years - and at the center of this safety is the Police Department. With a population of about 16,000 people, the City of Hewitt isn't some sprawling metropolis. In small...
Texas Tech Tight End and Harker Heights alumnus Terrance Carter Jr. returns to his alma mater to host his inaugural TC Takeover Youth Football Camp.Watch the full story here: Texas Tech's Terrance Carter Jr. returns to Harker Heights for inaugural youth football camp"Honestly,...
WACO, Texas (FOX 44) - Even though it's the summertime, it's not too early to be thinking about back-to-school! The Waco Police Department has an event coming soon to help with school supplies. For more information, you can watch our interview above.
Louise Hays Park in Kerrville was hit by this week's severe weather. Long-time residents said seeing the aftermath is devastating. Jason Blazen said the park was built in one day. The Blazens said the park was a place they often visited with their kids. BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT:Just...
Waffle House is planning two new locations in Waco as development continues along the Interstate 35 corridor, according to the Waco Tribune-Herald.With one restaurant being planned for 722 S. Seventh St. near Baylor University, and a second location at 2301 S. New Road.According...
Gatesville's inaugural Pickle Fest exceeded expectations over the Fourth of July weekend, drawing an estimated 6,000 visitors throughout the day and delivering a major boost to the local economy.WATCH the full story here: Gatesville's inaugural Pickle Fest draws thousands of...
The city of Temple purchased Santa Fe Trailer Park in January for just over $1.4 million, planning to use the property to expand the adjacent animal shelter. The purchase stems from a lawsuit filed by the park's original owner after the city denied a request to expand the park;...
HEWITT, Texas (FOX 44) - As this week's edition of Our Town reaches a close, our coverage of Hewitt caps off by answering a simple question: How was Hewitt founded? The town is located eight miles southwest of Waco and was established in 1882 when the Missouri, Kansas and Texas...
Waco, Tx (FOX44) - A McLennan County grand jury has returned felony indictments against three men arrested in April accused of putting card skimmers on gas pumps in Hewitt. Yardanys Castillo, Sarria Gutierrez Jeiler, and Lazono Raul Pinera Rodriguez were all indicted on charges...
WACO, Texas (FOX 44) - With school out and the kids at home, it's important that they spend time doing something positive. Many churches throughout the area are hosting Vacation Bible School programs this summer. Pastor Ramiro Peña from Christ the King Church paid a visit to our...
Talarico has been attacking Paxton on the campaign trail over his office’s handling of a case where a Waco man was charged with sexually abusing a young boy.
LORENA, Texas (FOX 44) - UPDATE: An accident on southbound Interstate 35 in Lorena shut down multiple lanes on Friday morning. Old Lorena Road in the 6000 block was closed, according to the Lorena Police Department. The Texas Department of Public Safety, the McLennan County...
McLENNAN COUNTY, Texas (FOX 44) - Blue Bell Creameries has been making the best ice cream in the country for more than 100 years! We learn more about the company's Texas roots, and its newest flavor, in the video above!
At least two people died after extreme flooding hit the Hill Country late Wednesday into Thursday morning.
A new federal law is now in effect aimed at making homeownership more attainable for first-time buyers in Central Texas.Watch Full Story Here: New federal housing law aims to make homeownership more attainable for first-time buyers in WacoThe 21st Century Road to Housing Act...
Severe weather has hit the City of Boerne, and residents are shocked to see the impact. Residents said the last time Cibolo Creek flooded was 20 years ago. Severe weather is expected to continue until Friday. BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT:I walk around here all the time, and its crazy...
A Temple mother is hoping to turn her loss into change after her 3-year-old son drowned in a backyard pool a year ago.Hannah Ochoa's firstborn, Keaton Smith, was a fighter from the beginning, having been born premature. As he grew, he could always be found with a toy animal in...
The UIL enacts a pilot program for the use of a 35 second shot clock that will be optional in all conferences for varsity tournaments.Watch the full story here: UIL approves shot clock pilot program for varsity basketball tournaments"For a while they've been talking about doing...
The city council's failure to schedule a formal action meeting in time has caused the company behind Marlin's Brushy Creek project to pull out, dealing a significant blow to a development projected to bring $1.5 billion to the city over the next 10 years.WATCH HERE: Marlin's...
The 2026 Waco Independent Film Festival is finally here and 25 News is your one-stop-shop for coverage! It's a weekend of red carpet events, parties, and of course, great films!Waco Indie 2026 highlights ahead with Shardae LaRae and John Wildman Waco Indie 2026 highlights ahead...
WACO, Texas (FOX 44) - According to the World Health Organization, headache disorders affect about 40 percent of the population - which is equivalent to 3.1 billion people. We speak with Baylor Scott & White about migraine awareness in our interview above.
WACO, Texas (FOX 44) - The Humane Society of Central Texas (HSCTX) is inviting you to a silent disco for a good cause! HSCTX says its Puppies! At The Disco event will take place from 7 p.m. - 11 p.m. Thursday at TrueLove Waco, located at 414 Franklin Avenue. There will be lots...
Central Texas (FOX44) - Firefighters from McLennan County have been called up to assist communities impacted by flooding in the San Antonio area. Robinson firefighters have deployed as part of the Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System. Robinson Fire Chief Sullivan and...
The 10th annual Waco Independent Film Festival is underway this weekend at the Hippodrome, bringing together filmmakers and film lovers for dozens of screenings, panels and networking events open to the public.Watch Full Story Here: 10th annual Waco Indie Film Festival kicks off...
The Killeen Animal Shelter on Rancier has been vacant since late February, when mold was discovered and the building was closed because it could not handle the level of cleaning required.City leaders received an update on the building's condition and the plan moving forward.The...
Texas A&M received one of its biggest offseason victories Tuesday as All-American closer Clayton Freshcorn announced he will return to College Station for the 2027 season instead of signing with the St. Louis Cardinals.Freshcorn was selected by the Cardinals with the No. 564...
Residents describe drainage problems, vehicle damage risks, and safety worries following recent storms in the Bryan-College Station area. BCS residents reactions and impact of recent stormsResidents in Bryan-College Station are feeling the effects of recent storms, with flooding...
WACO, Texas (FOX 44) – The Waco Independent Film Festival (Waco Indie) has announced the film lineup and events schedule for this year's event! The Festival was recently was named as one of MovieMaker Magazine’s “50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee”. Waco Indie’s in-theater...
HEWITT, Texas (FOX 44) — As Central Texas continues to grow, Hewitt is hoping to stake its claim in the minds of potential new residents. Hewitt is the second largest city in McLennan County, with a population of around 16,000. Over the years, they have been recognized multiple...
College Station's proposed 2027 budget includes nearly $36M in Midtown district upgradesWatch the full story here: College Station's proposed 2027 budget includes nearly $36M in Midtown district upgradesCollege Station has big plans for its Midtown district, and the proposed...
Woodway, Tx (FOX44) - Midway ISD is facing repairs due to water damage from two different sources, flood waters from heavy rains and in a second incident from a broken pipe. The flooding came as a result of the heavy rains Tuesday and caused damage to the visiting team locker...
WACO, Texas (FOX 44) - Trade schools have been seeing major growth over the last year - over traditional four-year institutions. We spoke with TSTC Waco, who shared more about why trade school education might be a path to consider. You can watch our interview above.
WACO, Texas (FOX 44) - Some Waco Independent School District students are spreading joy through creativity! The district says some talented young artists from Tennyson Middle School recently shared their artwork with the residents of St. Catherine's Senior Living and Rehab...
WACO, Texas (FOX 44) - Bold stories, big laughs, and unforgettable memories will come to life at the Waco Independent Film Festival! Festival Co-Founders Louis Hunter and Samuel Thomas tell us what we can expect for the event's tenth year in our interview above. For more...
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