Elected leaders from the City of Houston and Harris County are speaking out against the suspension of over two million voters from Texas voter rolls. The recent announcement made during a press conference has raised significant concerns about the potential impact on the upcoming November election.
During the press conference, Governor Greg Abbott revealed that more than one million voters have been removed from the voter rolls since 2021, with around 463,000 on the “suspense list.” These are voters whose addresses are unknown to county election offices, often due to undeliverable mailers sent by election administrators.
However, there are concerns that relying solely on mailers to notify voters of registration cancellations may not be sufficient. This could leave thousands of voters unaware that their registration has been suspended, putting them at risk of being turned away at the polls on election day.
“The state of Texas under Gov. Abbott has had a long track record of finding ways to make sure that people he doesn’t like can’t vote.”
– State Rep. Gene Wu
State Rep. Gene Wu highlighted the issue, stating, “Texas still follows an antiquated rule that requires voters to register 30 days in advance. If you need to correct your voter registration, the deadline is Oct. 7.” This tight deadline could pose challenges for voters, especially those in marginalized communities.
The Texas Secretary of State’s office clarified that voters on the suspense list can still vote by signing a “statement of residence” before casting their ballot. However, the removal of suspended voters from the rolls means that those who attempt to vote without re-registering will be denied the opportunity to do so, creating additional barriers.
One Houston resident, Cherlene Vincent, shared her experience being put on the suspense list due to an issue with mail delivery. She had to make a 27-mile trip to resolve the situation at the Harris County Voter Registration Department.
Efforts to challenge voter eligibility have led to over 65,000 voters having their status examined and potentially withdrawn. Private citizens in Texas can contest the eligibility of voters in their county, raising concerns about the timing and impact of these actions.
Council Member Abbie Kamin expressed her concerns about the voter purge, stating, “Weeks before an election, all this is doing is intimidating and dissuading Texans from voting.” This situation mirrors a similar effort in 2019, raising doubts about the voter roll maintenance process in the state.
Local leaders and voting rights advocates are working to ensure that eligible voters are not disenfranchised. The Harris County Elections Office has initiated a campaign to encourage voters to verify their registration status and update their information if needed.
Despite these efforts, the removal of a large number of voters, particularly from minority communities, raises concerns about potential election outcomes. Critics argue that the state’s actions amount to voter suppression, a claim denied by Abbott and other officials.
Texans are urged to check their voter registration status and re-register if necessary to avoid being turned away at the polls.