Texas Uncovers Over 2,700 Noncitizen Voters in Registration Review

Texas has officially identified more than 2,700 registered voters who are not American citizens, according to an announcement from the state’s Secretary of State, Jane Nelson. This discovery comes amid ongoing scrutiny of voter registration practices in the state, which has approximately 18 million voters. The identified individuals will be further investigated for their eligibility to vote.

Nelson’s office has provided the relevant files to counties across Texas, which will conduct their own investigations into the status of these voters. Any noncitizen voters discovered will be referred to the state attorney general’s office for further action. Under Texas law, noncitizens are prohibited from participating in federal, state, and most local elections.

“Everyone’s right to vote is sacred and must be protected,” Nelson stated. She emphasized the importance of thorough investigations to ensure voter eligibility, noting that this is standard practice whenever data sets are provided to counties.

Procedures for Voter Registration Cancellation

Texas law mandates that county voter registrars must notify each individual identified as a noncitizen prior to canceling their registration. Registrants are required to respond within 30 days of receiving the notice. If no response is received, the county has the authority to cancel the voter’s registration.

To identify noncitizen voters, Texas utilized a federal database, which Nelson described as a “critically important” tool for maintaining accurate voter rolls. Texas has partnered with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to leverage the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements program, marking it as one of the first states to do so. Nelson credited the Trump Administration with granting states direct access to this data set, which she said has significantly improved the verification process for citizenship.

Political Reactions and Controversies

The cancellation of voter registrations has raised concerns among various lawmakers. Earlier this year, a majority of U.S. House Democrats opposed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, a bill that would require states to remove noncitizens from voter lists and demand proof of citizenship for federal election registrations. Critics argue that such measures, while aimed at preventing noncitizen voting, could inadvertently disenfranchise legitimate voters.

The Texas Democratic Party has expressed strong opposition to these efforts. In a statement, Chairman Kendall Scudder characterized the SAVE Act as part of a long history of regressive politics aimed at restricting voting rights. “We’re no strangers to attempts to undermine the right to vote,” Scudder asserted. He warned that millions of Americans could be at risk of losing their voting rights if the legislation is enacted.

Scudder added that efforts should focus on making voting more accessible rather than constraining it. “We’ve worked hard to make it easier for working folks to legally cast their ballots, not more difficult,” he concluded.

The ongoing investigations will likely continue to attract attention as Texas navigates the complexities of voter registration and eligibility. As counties begin their inquiries, the implications of these findings may influence broader discussions about voting rights and election integrity in the United States.