Texas Faces Flood of Voter Registration Challenges: What You Need to Know
Texas election officials are grappling with an unprecedented surge in voter registration challenges. As the November election approaches, a wave of formal objections is targeting thousands of voter registrations across the state. Let’s dive into what’s happening, why it matters, and how it might affect you.
Understanding the Voter Registration Challenges in Texas
What’s Behind the Challenges?
Conservative groups and individual activists have filed numerous challenges to voter registrations across Texas. These objections are based on claims that certain voters:
- Don’t live in the county
- Aren’t U.S. citizens
- Are deceased
The intention behind these challenges is to purge the voter rolls of what they claim are ineligible voters. However, election officials are emphasising that these challenges complicate their work, which already involves rigorous efforts to maintain accurate voter rolls.
Why the Surge?
The bulk of these challenges have been filed by True the Vote, a Houston-based right-wing organisation. True the Vote has been on a mission to remove voters they consider ineligible, using an online tool called IV3 that matches voter data with USPS change-of-address records.
- IV3 Tool: This tool is used to identify discrepancies between voter records and address changes. Activists then submit these findings as challenges to local election offices.
What Election Officials Are Saying
The Impact on Voter Rolls
Election officials are quick to reassure voters that challenges do not automatically lead to removal from the rolls. Trudy Hancock, the Brazos County elections administrator, explains that there is a structured process to protect challenged voters.
- Process for Challenges: Despite challenges being filed, voters are not at immediate risk of being removed. Election officials must follow a legal process to verify and act on these challenges.
Current Procedures
Under federal law, voter registrations cannot be cancelled within 90 days of an election unless the voter voluntarily cancels or is convicted of a felony. This means that even if a challenge is filed, it doesn’t mean voters will be immediately dropped from the rolls.
- Suspense List: For challenges related to residency, voters might be placed on a “suspense list” until they confirm their address. They can still vote and update their information before the registration deadline.
Processing Challenges
Election officials across counties like Collin, Travis, Hays, Brazos, Tarrant, and Denton are busy managing these challenges, which began in June and target thousands of voters.
- Volume of Challenges: In Travis County alone, one person has challenged the registrations of 12,000 voters. Other counties are seeing similar large-scale challenges.
Criticism of the Challenge Efforts
Reliability Issues
Many election officials and voting rights advocates criticise the challenge efforts, particularly those led by True the Vote. Concerns include:
- Outdated Data: The USPS change-of-address database used by True the Vote is often outdated, making it an unreliable source for determining voter eligibility.
- Questionable Practices: A federal judge in Georgia has previously condemned similar efforts, citing a lack of reliability and quality control.
Impact on Voters
The large-scale challenges often rely on unsubstantiated claims that the voter rolls are filled with inaccuracies. Research by Protect Democracy highlights that these challenges are not only redundant but can also intimidate and burden eligible voters.
- False Claims: Claims that the rolls are packed with dead or ineligible voters are often exaggerated and not supported by evidence.
Legal and Practical Aspects
Texas Laws on Voter Challenges
In Texas, challenging a voter’s registration involves submitting a sworn, notarised statement based on personal knowledge. Challenges based on general data or databases are often dismissed.
- Sworn Statements: To challenge a voter, the challenger must provide a sworn statement detailing why they believe the voter is ineligible. This requirement helps ensure that challenges are not based on inaccurate or superficial data.
Handling of Valid Challenges
If a valid challenge is filed, the local registrar must send a notice to the voter and hold a hearing if the challenge concerns issues like citizenship. However, registrars cannot send address confirmation notices within 75 days of the November election.
- Hearing Process: For challenges involving citizenship or other serious claims, a formal hearing is required where evidence is presented.
What Voters Should Do
Check Your Registration Status
Voters should verify their registration status to ensure there are no issues with their records. The deadline to register to vote is October 7, and you can check your status at VoteTexas.gov or by contacting your local voter registrar.
- Updating Information: If you’ve moved or changed your address, make sure to update your registration information as soon as possible to avoid any complications.
How to Stay Informed
Election officials, such as Jennifer Doinoff in Hays County, are working to make the process clearer for voters. Doinoff is creating resources to help voters understand how to check their registration status and update their information if needed.
- Resources Available: Voters can look out for educational videos and guides from local election officials to help them navigate the registration process.
Conclusion
The flood of voter registration challenges in Texas highlights ongoing debates about election integrity and voter eligibility. While these challenges can complicate the work of election officials, it’s crucial for voters to stay informed and proactive about their registration status. By checking and updating your information, you can help ensure your vote counts in the upcoming election.
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