The next local election is in November. Texans may need to start preparing early with the upcoming voter registration deadline.

Oct. 7 is the last day for people to register to vote in Texas for local elections this year. Registration applications, which are available at county elections offices, driver license offices, some government offices, post offices, public assistance agencies and public libraries, should be submitted in person or postmarked by this date.

One can also access voting information by visiting Vote411.org

Those who are wondering if they have to register can visit the website’s voter information lookup.

Being registered,  consists of being a United States citizen, a resident of the county where registration was or will be completed, at least 18 years old or sometimes 17 years and 10 months old and not be a convicted felon or declared mentally incapacitated by law.

Regardless of the requirements to register to vote in Texas, there are a variety of reasons one may not register to vote.

If a person has moved to a different county, they have to re-register by filling out a new application and delivering it in person or through mail to the voter registrar of the new county, according to the Vote Texas website. If one has moved within the same county or has changed his or her name, that person will need to notify the voter registrar of the change.

For more information on voting, visit Vote411.org

Whether it be a presidential election or a local election, people may be swayed by what is occurring in an election.

Joel Sievert, assistant professor in the Department of Political Science, said the outreach in presidential elections differs from that in local elections.

“Some of this comes down to the incentives that each politician has,” he said regarding getting people to register to vote. “So, in a presidential election, it’s a national contest, you’re really trying to maximize the number of people and you have a lot more resources. Local politicians aren’t going to have those same types of resources.”

During presidential elections, Sievert said, one can see people who are reminding potential voters to register and vote.

“You don’t tend to see that as much at a local level,” he said regarding these informants. “Some of that is just a resource difference.”

The types of people registering for local elections are a small group and are more than likely already registered, Sievert said. Presidential elections tend to have more people registering and voting.

Regardless of people’s participation during national and local elections, there are a variety of reasons why one may not fill out a registration application to take part in this November’s election.

“The costs of getting registered are not something they are willing to or can pay,” he said regarding those who do not register. “But again, a lot of it comes down to general political engagement.”