A technical failure in Texas has left tens of thousands of voter registration applications unprocessed for months, forcing county election officials into a frantic scramble to clear the backlog just weeks before the midterm elections. The Texas secretary of state’s office notified local election administrators last week about the issue, which originated in the Department of Public Safety’s (DPS) records system. When certain applications were missing required information, they were not forwarded to the county offices responsible for processing registrations.
The delayed records began arriving at local election offices on Tuesday, according to Votebeat, which first reported the problem. The scope of the backlog varies widely by county. Bexar County, which includes San Antonio, received more than 45,000 records, while Travis County, anchored by Austin, received more than 35,000. A statewide total has not yet been released.
The records include new voter registrations, updates to existing voter information, and duplicates. Election officials must now sort through the files to determine which applications require action, a process that is already stretching local resources. The timing is particularly fraught: the Oct. 5 deadline for Texans to register for the Nov. 3 elections is fast approaching, and early voting begins Oct. 19.
Bexar County Elections Administrator Michele Carew said in a statement that her team is working overtime to handle the influx. “While that number may seem high, the Elections team is already hard at work reviewing every application and will be extending hours to make sure all records are updated well before early voting begins,” she said.
The error does not automatically disqualify affected voters. Alicia Pierce, a spokesperson for the Texas secretary of state, told NBC News that individuals who believe they registered but do not appear on the rolls can cast a provisional ballot, and election officials can later verify their status using DPS records.
Texas is home to several closely watched statewide races this year, including the Senate contest between Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) and state Rep. James Talarico (D). In a statement to NBC News, Talarico condemned the state’s handling of the situation. “Less than two weeks before the voter registration deadline, thousands of Texans are now in the dark about their voter registration status — even more aren’t aware of this error at all,” he said. “This is what a broken, corrupt political system looks like: Texans follow the rules, register to vote before the deadline, and still risk losing their God-given right to the ballot box because their government failed to do its job.”
The backlog has reignited concerns about election administration in Texas, where recent voting law changes have already drawn scrutiny. Lawmakers in other states have also raised alarms about voter data integrity, though the current issue appears to be a technical glitch rather than a deliberate act. Still, the timing could undermine confidence in the electoral process, especially as moderate voters express frustration with political institutions.
Election officials are urging Texans to check their registration status online and to contact their county office if they have questions. The secretary of state’s office has promised to work with DPS to prevent future errors, but the immediate focus is on processing the backlog before early voting begins.
