Texas election officials are scrambling to clear a backlog of at least 200,000 voter‑registration applications and updates that remain unprocessed weeks before the November 3 midterm elections. The delay stems from a software update error in the Department of Public Safety’s (DPS) online portal, the only statewide option for Texans with driver’s licenses to register or update their voter information.
What happened
In September, Votebeat and the Texas Tribune reported that DPS failed to transmit thousands of applications submitted through the portal dating back to October 2025. The agency attributes the problem to a software update from a third‑party vendor that handles batch transactions. County election officials first noticed an irregular flow of records – some days they received a handful of applications, other days none at all – and flagged the issue to the Texas Secretary of State’s Office.
Impact on voters
Because the backlog includes both new registrations and updates, advocates warn that some Texans could be disenfranchised if their records are not added to the rolls by the October 5 deadline. The state says voters whose applications are missing can still cast a provisional ballot, which will be counted once officials verify the registration was submitted on time.
State response
On September 25, the Secretary of State’s Office announced grant funding to reimburse counties for costs incurred above routine operational expenses related to the surge in DPS applications. The amount of money available and the source of the funds were not disclosed.
Governor Greg Abbott’s office referred questions about the error to DPS and the Secretary of State, noting that DPS told the governor the issue was “fully resolved.” DPS later issued a statement saying it had identified the problem, traced it to the October 2025 software update, and was working on a fix.
Legislative and bipartisan reaction
Both Democrats and Republicans have called for a thorough investigation. Members of the Texas Senate Democratic Caucus sent a letter to Governor Abbott on September 25 asking, “What safeguards failed?” and “What support will the state provide to counties?” State Rep. Mihaela Plesa (D) said she will push for tighter protocols in the upcoming legislative session to ensure faster alerts and repairs.
Republican leaders also expressed concern. State Sen. Paul Bettencourt, a longtime champion of election‑administration reform, and Rep. Matt Shaheen, chair of the Texas House Elections Committee, said they are investigating the cause and will hold responsible parties accountable. Shaheen added that the incident has made him skeptical of expanding online voter registration.
County officials on the front lines
County election administrators are working through the backlog manually. In Brazos County, elections administrator Trudy Hancock described the erratic flow of records and the difficulty of processing them. In Bastrop County, elections administrator Kristin Miles noted that the state’s voter‑list management system (TEAM) only displays 30 records at a time, forcing staff of four to review more than 2,200 entries one by one.
What voters should do
Experts advise Texans who used the DPS portal to check their registration status before Election Day. If a name does not appear on the rolls, voters can request a provisional ballot and should be prepared to show proof of registration when prompted at the polls.
Emily French, Texas Policy Director at Common Cause, urged the state to contact every affected voter directly and provide clear instructions on how to vote provisionally.
Looking ahead
The Secretary of State’s Office said it is prioritizing a fix for the software issue and will continue to work with counties to clear the backlog. As the midterm races tighten, ensuring that every eligible Texan can cast a ballot remains a top priority for both parties.
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
