San Antonio voters face two pressing tasks ahead of the Nov. 3 election: confirming their address on the county’s suspense list and filing any new voter‑registration applications before the Oct. 5 deadline. As of Friday, Sept. 25, Bexar County reported almost 159,000 voters flagged for address verification.
What the suspense list means
Michelle Carew, Bexar County elections administrator, explained that the suspense list has been in place since 1995. Voters appear on the list when a mailed notice or a court filing indicates they may no longer reside at the address on record. “A lot of voters have been calling in wanting more information about it,” Carew said. “Basically in a nutshell, we’ve mailed something to you or you have let the courts know that you no longer live at an address, which now has flagged you as for us to put you on suspense.”
The current number of suspense‑list voters is lower than it was four years ago, but the figure remains sizable. The quickest way to be removed is to submit a new voter‑registration application by Oct. 5. Those who remain on the list on Election Day can still vote, but they must be prepared to verify their residence at the polling place.
How to vote if you’re on the list
Voters who still live at the address on file, or who have moved within Bexar County, may complete a “statement of residence” at the polling place to confirm their address. Those who have moved to another county or precinct will be limited to statewide contests and any races that apply to their new precinct.
Backlog of registration applications
In addition to the suspense‑list issue, the county is addressing a backlog of roughly 50,000 voter‑registration applications. The Texas Department of Public Safety failed to forward registration data to local election offices, an error that may date back to October 2025. “Nearly 50,000 applications were waiting to be processed as of Friday,” Carew said.
To clear the pile, the elections office has hired additional staff and is operating extended hours. Processing each application involves more than data entry; workers must review each voter’s profile to determine whether the application has already been processed or if the voter has moved again.
Deadlines to watch
All voter registrations must be received by Oct. 5 and processed before early voting begins on Oct. 19. Carew noted that the office successfully cleared a backlog of more than 75,000 applications in just ten days before the 2025 elections.
When asked whether such backlogs have become the new normal, Carew expressed hope that they will not. “But it definitely feels like Groundhog Day,” she said.
What residents can do now
Voters are encouraged to check their registration status online via the Bexar County elections website or the Texas Secretary of State’s portal for registrations outside the county. Prompt action will help ensure every eligible voter can cast a ballot without unnecessary hurdles.
Original reporting: San Antonio, TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
