[REVISION HISTORY]

Texas voter registration backlog and new administrative gaps

Updated 8 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-10-18 18:03 UTC → 2026-10-19 11:18 UTC · added ~~removed~~

A technical error within the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) online driver’s license portal caused a massive backlog of voter registration applications and updates. The issue, which originated in October 2025, prevented incomplete registration data from transmitting to local county officials. By late September 2026, several populous counties reported significant administrative burdens, with Bexar, Dallas, Montgomery, and Collin counties managing tens of thousands of backlogged records. The delay was traced to a vendor software update at the DPS that caused three required data fields to be omitted from files sent to the Secretary of State’s Office. Following the October 5 registration deadline, the backlog was estimated to include at least 500,000 records. In response, voting rights groups, including the League of Women Voters of Texas and MOVE Texas Civic Fund, filed a lawsuit against the state to enforce a 2021 settlement requiring a functional online registration process. By mid-October 2026, Texas voter registrations reached a record high of over 19 million ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, representing a 2.2% increase since the 2024 general election. Secretary of State Robert Howden confirmed the registration total at 19,041,684, noting that growth was particularly notable in fast-growing suburban counties such as Kaufman, Waller, Ellis, and Hays, while Tarrant County saw a 2.6% decrease compared to four years ago. While officials reported that the initial 500,000-record backlog caused by the DPS software error has since been resolved, a new administrative hurdle has emerged. A separate error involving address updates made via Texas.gov between September 1 and mid-October has resulted in a new backlog of approximately 15,000 records, specifically impacting Bexar, Travis, Williamson, and Hays counties. Furthermore, the state's voter suspense ~~list—comprising voters with unconfirmed or undeliverable addresses—has~~ list has grown to nearly 1.8 million people, or roughly 9% of all registered voters in Texas. While being on this list does not prevent voting, residents who have moved within their county must complete a statement of residence at polling locations to cast their ballots. people.

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