The state of Texas has taken over administrative oversight of voter registration in Val Verde County, citing a recurring pattern of problems with election administration and voter registration. The county, which has around 30,000 registered voters, has struggled to maintain accurate voter registration records despite on-site training and help from the Texas Secretary of State’s Office.

Background

In 2023, Texas Republicans approved a state law allowing for unprecedented state oversight of elections in counties with problems. The law was initially aimed at Harris County but has now been applied to Val Verde County, which was selected for a state-required biennial audit of elections in 2024. The audit found issues with voter registration records, including duplicates and incorrect jurisdiction assignments.

State Sen. Paul Bettencourt, the law’s author, said the bill’s application beyond Harris County aims to address lingering voter registration and election administration issues. "We need to make sure that if there are problems, that they’re followed up on, and that they stay fixed," Bettencourt said.

Response from Val Verde County

Val Verde County Judge Lewis Owens welcomed the audit and findings from the state, saying, "You can’t fix what you don’t know is broke. So, with them coming in and giving us the detailed report like they did and pointing out exactly what needs to be fixed, we gotta do it." The county has since reviewed its list of registered voters to merge duplicates and implemented a policy manual for voter registration.

Original reporting: Texas Tribune (HLL/CB) — read the source article.