Woodlands-area voters who missed the Oct. 23 deadline to request a mail-in ballot still have a few narrow paths to vote absentee before the Nov. 3 election.

Texas law provides emergency ballot procedures for voters facing sudden illness or a death in the family, KPRC 2 reported. The rules are strict and the windows are short.

Sudden illness or disability

Voters who develop a qualifying sickness or physical disability that originated on or after Thursday, Oct. 22, may apply for an emergency early voting ballot. The condition must prevent the voter from appearing at a polling place without risking injury to their health or needing personal assistance, according to KPRC 2.

A licensed physician must certify the condition and confirm when it began, according to VoteTexas.gov. The voter can designate a representative to hand-deliver the application, pick up the ballot and return it to the county's early voting clerk.

That representative must be at least 18, must not have served as a representative for another voter in the same election, and must not be employed by or related within the third degree to a candidate on the ballot, VoteTexas.gov states.

The application deadline is 5 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 3. The completed ballot must be returned by 7 p.m. that same day.

A pre-existing illness or disability does not qualify. The condition must be new.

Death in the family

A separate emergency procedure covers voters who must leave Montgomery County because of a death in their immediate family. The death must occur on or after Thursday, Oct. 29, and the voter must expect to be outside their county of residence on Election Day, KPRC 2 reported.

Eligible relatives include parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren and certain in-laws within the second degree by blood or marriage.

Voters using this option must apply in person at the main early voting polling place between Saturday, Oct. 31, and the close of business Monday, Nov. 2. The Texas Municipal Clerks election calendar confirms that window.

Already applied? Check your ballot status

Voters who submitted applications before the Oct. 23 cutoff can still receive and return their ballots. Completed mail-in ballots must arrive by 7 p.m. on Election Day, though ballots postmarked by that time can be counted if received by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, KPRC 2 reported.

In-person voting remains open

For most registered voters, the simplest option is voting in person. Early voting runs through Friday, Oct. 30. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Montgomery County has 487,886 registered voters, according to the county elections office. Two early voting locations serve The Woodlands area: George and Cynthia Woods Mitchell Library at 8125 Ashlane Way and Kevin Brady Library and Community Center at 2250 Buckthorne Place, according to Woodlands Online.

Voters with questions about emergency ballot eligibility can contact Montgomery County Elections Administrator Suzie Harvey's office at (936) 539-7843.