Texas DPS Glitch Delays 600,000 Voter Registrations as Early Voting Starts Monday
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Oct 15
Texas DPS Glitch Delays 600,000 Voter Registrations as Early Voting Starts Monday
1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Oct 15
Summary
Nearly 600,000 Texas voter registration applications were delayed by a Texas Department of Public Safety software glitch, forcing county election workers to rush processing before early voting opens Monday.
The backlog, detailed in a lawsuit filed last week by voting-rights groups, was blamed on a computer error in DPS-run software and alleged failures by DPS and the secretary of state to maintain a reliable online system.
County election officials said the pileup was mostly cleared by Wednesday and that few eligible voters were likely to lose their chance to vote, though advocates warned the disruption could still depress turnout.
The problem has drawn national attention in a state hosting one of the year's most competitive U.S. Senate races, with Senator Alex Padilla demanding an explanation from Governor Greg Abbott and Secretary of State Robert Howden.
The lawsuit also points to a 2021 settlement in which Texas agreed to offer residents online voter registration, underscoring broader scrutiny of the state's election administration.