A technical error in the Texas Department of Public Safety system delayed tens of thousands of voter registration applications, forcing counties to scramble ahead of the midterm elections.
Key facts
- •A system error at the Department of Public Safety caused incomplete voter registration applications to be withheld from election officials.
- •Bexar County received more than 45,000 registration forms, and Travis County received over 35,000.
- •Early voting in Texas is scheduled to begin on October 19.
- •The deadline for residents to register to vote in the state is October 5.
- •Voters who do not appear on state rolls can cast provisional ballots to ensure their registration is verified.
Texas election officials are working to process a massive backlog of voter registration applications after a system error at the Department of Public Safety prevented records from being transmitted. The Texas secretary of state’s office alerted counties to the issue last week, prompting a rush to update voter files before early voting begins on October 19. State officials began transmitting the delayed records to local election offices on Tuesday.
By the numbers
Impact on County Election Offices
The backlog has disproportionately affected populous urban counties, which are now extending staff hours and paying for overtime to process the influx of forms. Bexar County received more than 45,000 applications, while Travis County received over 35,000. Chris McGinn, executive director of the Texas Association of County Election Officials, noted that while some records may be duplicates, each application requires individual review.
Addressing Potential Registration Issues
State officials have advised that voters who believe they registered but do not appear on the official rolls can cast a provisional ballot. Election officials will then be able to verify their status by searching Department of Public Safety records. The registration deadline for the upcoming midterm elections in Texas is October 5.
Timeline
- Last weekThe Texas secretary of state’s office alerted election officials to the system error.
- TuesdayState officials began transmitting the delayed voter registration records to counties.
- October 5The deadline for residents to register to vote in Texas.
- October 19Early voting is scheduled to begin across the state.
Advertisement
This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by The Hill, NBC Politics.
