Early voting is available starting Monday, October 23. This Monday, October 23, marks the beginning of early voting for the Tuesday, November 7 General Election, which includes 18 candidates for Houston Mayor, four candidates for controller, 23 running in 11 separate districts, and 27 for at-large City Council. City Propositions, County Bonds, and State Constitution Amendments are on the ballot. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

After millions of dollars raised and spent, countless candidate forums, and commercials, the University of Houston poll released last week showed the mayoral race remains similar to where it was six months ago, with 34 percent of likely voters planning to vote for 50-year State Legislator John Whitmire, 31 percent for 28-year Congress Member Sheila Jackson Lee, and four percent for former Metro Chair and businessman Gilbert Garcia. Former at-large City Council Member Dr. Jack Christie, former District F Council Member MJ Khan, and term-limited District I Council Member Robert Gallegos are running for Mayor, each with a lifetime of public service and contributions to the city they have served and loved.

The runoff between the top two candidates in every race where no one wins 50 percent of the vote will be held on Saturday, December 9.

In the race for Houston City Controller, responsible for managing the city's $6.2 billion budget and varied investments, there are four candidates, each bringing weight to the race. The UH poll predicts a runoff between former County Clerk Chris Hollins, who initially ran for Mayor until Jackson Lee entered the Mayor race six months ago, and former at-large City Council Member and former Harris County Treasurer Orlando Sanchez. Mayor Pro-Tem and District Council Member Dave Martin and Deputy City Controller Shannan Nobles are also running, each with academic achievements and decades of public service and expertise in city public finance.

The Houston City Council At-Large 1 race features six candidates: private attorney Melanie Miles, public prosecutor Julian Ramirez, accountant, business owner, and US Navy mom Conchita Reyes, activist Leah Wolfthall, city planner and US Army Captain Eriq Glenn, and former Houston ISD Trustee Kendall Baker.

The Houston City Council At-Large 2 race features six candidates: retired city and state department manager and entrepreneur Marina Coryat, realtor Danielle Bess, civic club leader Nick Hellyar, former Houston ISD Trustee Holly Vilaseca, Pastor and U.S. Army Vietnam Veteran Willie Davis, and businessman Obes Nwabara.

The Houston City Council At-Large 3 race features nine candidates: HCC Administrator Donnell Cooper, television Meteorologist, business, and civic leader Casey Curry, former Astros foundation exec Twila Cater, pastor and businesswoman Ericka McCrutcheon, and Harris County Education Department/Aldine Management District leader Richard Cantu, former District F Council Member Richard Nguygen and GLBT activist Ethan Ganz.

The Houston City Council At-Large 4 race features four candidates: Dr. Letitia Plummer, who won in 2019 and works exhaustively across the city and region, educator John Branch, retired Air Force Lt. Col. Roy Morales, who has run several times before, and Andrews Patterson, who placed fourth for District J in 2019.

The Houston City Council At-Large 5 race features incumbent Sallie Alcorn and US Air Force Veteran and businessman J. Brad Batteau and Rigo Hernandez.

There are 68 early voting polling locations across Harris County, and anyone living in Harris County can vote from Monday through Thursday, November 3. On Election Day, November 7, there will be more than 700 polling locations open.