Election Day is Nov. 5, but you don't have to wait till then to cast your ballot. Early voting in Texas begins Monday.

Early voting runs from Oct. 21 to Nov. 1, and if you're planning to cast your ballot before Election Day, there are a couple of things you need to know. Before you head to the polls, you'll need to make sure you're registered to vote. The last day to register to vote in this election was Oct. 7, but here's how to check your registration status.

A surge of younger voters, transplants from other states and more aggressive voter registration efforts by Democrats and Republicans is behind the total.