As part of a sweeping reform to enhance election integrity, the Texas Secretary of State’s Office has excised over 1.1 million registrations from its voter rolls following legislation enacted in 2021. Governor Greg Abbott, affirming the ongoing nature of the removal process, highlighted that the state is committed to maintaining accurate and current voter data.
If you live in Texas, you should validate your voter registration today.
What We Know:
- The individuals removed from the rolls comprise a variety of ineligibilities, including noncitizens unlawfully registered, out-of-state relocations, deceased registrants, and individuals with felony convictions.
- Governor Abbott emphasized the state’s dedication to election security, stating, “Election integrity is paramount to the health of our democracy. The legislation I have approved sets robust standards to preserve the sanctity of the vote and counteract fraudulent voting practices. As a result, these measures have successfully cleansed our voter rolls of over a million ineligible entries over the past three years.”
- In a detailed breakdown, officials reported the largest group removed included over 463,000 flagged under the suspense category, followed by over 457,000 deceased individuals, and 134,000 who confirmed relocation out of state. Additionally, 65,000 were removed after failing to reply to an examination notice, 19,000 voluntarily cancelled their registrations, 6,500 were identified as noncitizens, and 6,000 were disqualified due to felony convictions.
- Among the noncitizen removals, around 1,930 had recorded voter activity. These cases are now forwarded to the Attorney General’s Office for further investigation and potential prosecution.
- These actions follow a series of legislations signed by Abbott to enforce rigorous standards and penalties related to electoral processes. Notably, in 2023, House Bill 1243 was signed, increasing penalties for unlawful voting actions, such as those by noncitizens, to a second-degree felony.
- Previously, in 2021, pivotal legislation like Senate Bill 1, Senate Bill 1113, and House Bill 574 were enacted. These laws introduced stricter measures including harsher penalties for fraudulent voter registration, prohibition of unsolicited mail-in ballot distribution, mandatory ID verification for mail-in voting, and biannual randomized audits mandated for the Secretary of State.
- Furthermore, Senate Bill 1113 requires withholding of funds from counties that do not diligently remove noncitizens from voter rolls, while House Bill 574 enhances penalties for improper handling of votes.
These legislative efforts trace back to 2017, with Senate Bill 5 that increased the penalties for election workers who allow voting by noncitizens or other ineligible voters.
Governor Abbott affirmed, “In Texas, we are proactively safeguarding our residents’ fundamental right to vote by fortifying our electoral system against abuses. This commitment is unwavering and we will continue to enforce it rigorously.”
This is a developing story and we will provide updates here.
How to check your voter registration in Texas
- Visit the Texas Secretary of State’s “Am I Registered?” website: https://teamrv-mvp.sos.texas.gov/MVP/mvp.do
- Enter your information in one of two ways:
- Voter ID number (VUID) and date of birth
- First name, last name, county, and date of birth
- Click “Submit”
- If found, your voter registration status and details will be displayed
- If not found, you may need to register to vote or update your information
To register or update registration:
- Complete a voter registration application online or in person
- Submit the application at least 30 days before the next election
For more detailed information or assistance, contact your county voter registrar or the Texas Secretary of State’s office.
Looking to check your registration in another state? Visit the BLK ALERTS Voter Registration Center.
