Texas DPS error leaves unknown number of voter registrations unprocessed

Unprocessed Voter Registrations Discovered

Texas election officials found that an unspecified number of voter registration applications were not processed due to an error by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). These applications were submitted by voters through the DPS online driver’s license portal but were not forwarded to county voter registrars for processing.

Details of the Error

State officials indicated that the affected transactions resulted in incomplete voter registration records, which prevented their transmission to county registrars. The specific information missing, the cause of the incomplete records, the exact number of affected voters, and when the problem began have not been disclosed. DPS officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Impact on Voters and Election Administration

The DPS portal is a significant channel for voter registration in Texas, with approximately 6 million Texans using it to register between 2020 and 2024. The discovery of this error less than two weeks before the October 5 voter registration deadline could create processing backlogs for counties, which are already busy. The Texas Association of County Election Officials is gathering information to assess the issue's scale.

Provisional Ballot Option for Affected Voters

Voters whose registrations were impacted can still have their ballots counted if they submitted their registration before the October 5 deadline. According to Alicia Pierce, a spokesperson for the secretary of state’s office, such voters can cast a provisional ballot. Election officials have a method to verify these transactions with DPS, and if the voter did register, their provisional vote will be counted.