Texas clears voter registration backlog after state error
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Election officials across Texas resolved a backlog of over 500,000 voter registration applications and updates that remained unprocessed for more than a year.
The Texas Department of Public Safety identified a software update to its online driver’s license portal as the cause of the issue. Last month, Votebeat first reported on the backlog, which occurred shortly before the state’s October 5 voter registration deadline, forcing officials to work quickly.
The Texas Secretary of State’s Office and the Texas Association of County Election Officials reported that counties have now finished processing the delayed applications. Kristin Miles, president of the election officials’ association and Bastrop County election administrator, affirmed that election officials are committed to ensuring eligible voters can participate, even if it requires extra work.
While some larger counties with more resources addressed the backlog within a week, many officials noted that issues with the state’s voter registration system complicated the process. The Secretary of State’s Office is providing grants to counties to cover costs related to overtime and temporary workers. Even as officials clear the backlog from the DPS error, they continue to process new registrations received by mail and online, accepting those postmarked or submitted before the deadline for the November 3 election.
Voters who registered through the DPS portal but do not appear on the voter roll can still cast a provisional ballot.
