Groups Sue Texas Over Unprocessed Voter Registrations Before Midterms
Voting rights groups sued Texas agencies, saying nearly 600,000 online voter registrations were not sent to county officials. The lawsuit argues counties now face a rush to process registrations before early voting begins on Oct. 19 for the November 2026 election. The groups say the delays could force affected voters to take extra steps to cast ballots and violate a prior settlement.
The suit targets the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Secretary of State. It says a system overhaul contributed to delays, and that problems were flagged starting in mid-2025. Harris County reportedly got about 75,000 delayed files; Dallas County got roughly 68,000. The state offered grants to help counties cover processing costs.
MOVE Texas Civic Fund and the Texas League of Women Voters brought the case. They cite a 2021 settlement that secured online registration. One declaration describes a voter who moved in June, tried to update in August, and remained tied to her old precinct weeks later. The groups seek court-ordered compliance, recordkeeping, and error reporting within a month.
The dispute may affect hundreds of thousands of voters whose registrations or address updates remain pending, especially those who moved or registered online. If counties cannot process files before early voting, some may need provisional ballots or vote at old precincts, potentially reducing confidence and creating administrative strain. County election offices could face higher costs and tighter timelines. The outcome may shape how Texas handles registration duties and settlement obligations.