County election officials across Texas have long struggled with the state’s upgraded voter registration management system, known as TEAM, which was rolled out in the summer of 2025. In response to mounting concerns, the Secretary of State’s office announced Thursday that it will commission an independent audit of the system and form working groups that include county staff and the vendor, Civix, to develop solutions.
Audit to assess functionality and salvageability
Christina Adkins, director of the elections division, sent an email to county officials outlining the audit’s scope. The review will evaluate the completeness and functionality of the system’s modules, assess user needs, and determine the long‑term salvageability of the current platform. The audit is slated to begin in December, with findings expected before the 2027 legislative session.
New ticketing system and working groups
Alongside the audit, the state has introduced a ticketing system that allows counties to track and resolve issues with TEAM. County officials will also join working groups that meet in December and January, bringing together election administrators, clerks, tax assessor‑collectors, and representatives from Civix. These groups will test the system, gather feedback, and help prioritize enhancements.
Officials welcome the state’s response
Kristin Miles, president of the Texas Association of County Election Officials and elections administrator for Bastrop County, praised the initiative, saying the state is taking “appropriate steps to address” the platform’s shortcomings for the benefit of all Texas voters. Secretary of State Robert Howden, appointed by Governor Greg Abbott, emphasized that Texas has successfully conducted multiple statewide elections using TEAM and that the upcoming audit will build on lessons learned.
Ongoing challenges with TEAM
Since its launch, officials have reported that TEAM is slow, occasionally crashes, and lacks essential features such as sorting voter registration records by submission date or bulk‑updating mail‑in ballot statuses. Some counties have resorted to workarounds to process registrations and ballots efficiently. The system’s rollout coincided with a rare mid‑cycle redistricting effort by Texas Republican lawmakers, adding further complexity.
Looking ahead
The state hopes that, without a major statewide election in the coming year, it can focus on refining TEAM with direct input from the counties that use it daily. By involving local election workers and the vendor in the improvement process, Texas aims to ensure that future elections run smoothly and that voter registration records are managed accurately and promptly.
Original reporting: Texas Tribune (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
