Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson issued two official advisories, emphasizing the crucial responsibility of county registrars to maintain accurate voter rolls. These advisories provide clear instructions for removing ineligible individuals, including foreign nationals, felons, and deceased voters.
“Clean voter rolls are the first line of defense to preserve secure elections,” said Secretary Nelson. “We must ensure our voter lists are up to date, and now is the time to prepare.”
Despite daily updates to the statewide voter registration database by the Secretary of State, federal law prohibits large-scale updates 90 days ahead of any federal election. With the May 28 Primary Runoff and any June 15 local Runoffs behind us, Texas has until August 7 to perform comprehensive list maintenance activities.
The Secretary of State’s office supplies counties with records of updates to the rolls, requiring voter registrars to investigate and remove any ineligible voter. Under a bill passed in 2021, the Secretary of State may withhold election funds from a county voter registrar for failure to approve, change, or cancel a voter’s registration in a timely manner.
In addition to acting on records provided by the Secretary of State, registrars also have the authority to initiate their own investigations. Texans have the right to challenge the eligibility of any registered voter in their county as well.
At Advancing Integrity, we echo Secretary Nelson’s call for action and urge all Texans to take an active role in ensuring voter roll accuracy. Citizens can double-check their county’s voter registration to confirm that their information is correct and report any discrepancies they find. Accurate voter rolls are essential for secure and trustworthy elections, and every individual’s participation counts.
With elections far enough behind us, and November elections just around the corner, it’s time to do something about inaccurate voter rolls. If you are passionate about election integrity and want to contribute further, consider joining the Texas Election Coalition. This initiative allows dedicated individuals to get involved in monitoring and improving the voter registration process. Together, we can ensure that our elections are fair, secure, and reflective of the true will of the people.