Texas is the only state that offers a unique type of U.S. birth certificate copy called a Birth Certificate for Election Identification. It is a certified copy of a birth certificate that an individual can obtain for free. However, it can only be used to apply for an Election Identification Certificate (EIC). These copies are explicitly marked that they are “For Election Identification Purposes Only.”
Texas birth certificates for election identification have been available for free since 2013, and EICs can also be obtained for free at any Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) office.
However, copies are limited to one per person and can only be obtained by the person on record. You can get one through the Texas Vital Statistics Unit (VSU), local registrar, or county clerk. To find your closest location, check our list of Texas vital records offices.