Texas Secretary of State Howden Robert Howden announced Friday that voter registrations have surged past the 19 million mark, setting a new state record as the November 3 midterm election approaches. The latest count reflects a 2.2 % increase over the November 2024 general election and a 2 % rise since the March primary, with overall registrations 7.7 % higher than the 2022 midterms.
Suburban counties lead the growth
Fast‑growing suburban counties posted the strongest gains. Kaufman County saw a 27 % jump in registered voters, Waller County added 23 %, while both Ellis and Hays counties grew by 21 % each. These numbers underscore the expanding electorate in Texas’ booming suburbs.
Tarrant County sees a dip amid overall growth
In contrast, Tarrant County – long viewed as a swing area – recorded a decline of 32,503 voters, a 2.6 % drop compared with four years ago. Nonetheless, the county grew 4.1 % between 2022 and 2025, according to Vintage Population Estimates, indicating that the overall trend remains positive.
State officials address registration backlogs
Recent technical glitches threatened to stall the surge. A software error at the Texas Department of Public Safety left roughly 500,000 applications unprocessed, and a separate issue delayed address updates submitted via Texas.gov between Sept. 1 and early October. County election officials in Bexar, Travis, Williamson and Hays have been working overtime to clear the backlog. Registrations postmarked or submitted to DPS by Oct. 5 will be deemed valid, and affected voters may cast provisional ballots.
Federal review and President Trump’s stance
The record registration numbers arrive amid ongoing scrutiny of voter‑roll maintenance. Earlier this year, Texas turned over a portion of its roll to the U.S. Department of Justice for a federal review of non‑citizen registrations. A Department of Homeland Security screening tool mistakenly flagged some eligible voters as potential non‑citizens. President Trump has repeatedly asserted, without evidence, that millions of non‑citizens are voting in American elections. The federal review, however, has found no support for that claim.
Early voting begins
Early voting opens Monday, giving Texans ample opportunity to cast their ballots before Election Day. The surge in registrations, coupled with a robust turnout in the March primary—where nearly one‑quarter of registered voters cast ballots—suggests heightened civic engagement for the high‑stakes midterms.
What this means for Texas voters
Secretary Howden emphasized the importance of participation: “Texas continues to see strong voter registration numbers, and we want every eligible Texan to be prepared to participate in the upcoming election.” With record‑high registration figures and early voting underway, Texas voters are poised to make their voices heard in a pivotal election that will shape the state’s future.
Original reporting: Texas Tribune (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
