Voters in Jefferson County are being urged to double-check their registration status as county officials work through a backlog of voter registration applications and updates tied to a statewide processing problem.
Jefferson County Tax Assessor-Collector Kate Carroll said her office has received new applications as well as potential duplicates. The office is also still waiting for “two to three packets” containing more applications from the Texas Secretary of State’s office.
The Texas Department of Public Safety has attributed the backlog to an October 2025 software update by a third-party vendor whose software handles batch transactions.
The Texas Tribune reported the statewide backlog had grown to at least 200,000 voter registration applications and updates by Sept. 25. Counties reporting large numbers of affected records included Dallas County with more than 68,000 records, Collin County with 40,000, Travis County with 32,000, Williamson County with 18,000, Hays County with 8,200, Lubbock County with 7,400, Cameron County with 4,500 and Jefferson County with roughly 3,400. The records include voter registrations and updates that were not processed as they should have been.
State Rep. Christian Manuel said the Secretary of State’s office advised that anyone who is concerned their information may not be processed by the cutoff can submit another voter registration card without penalty.
“And they said if someone feels uncomfortable, they can fill out another voter registration card. It is not going to be penalized against them,” Manuel said. “If there are two of the same one that’s a duplicate, they’re aware of that, and it will not have any effect on that one.”
Manuel also said Jefferson County is working to complete processing in time.
“The state is aware of what’s happening, obviously, throughout the state, but they’re also aware of what our county is doing,” Manuel said. “We are speeding to get to having all 3,500 done in time.”
Asked whether there will be an official enquiry into the DPS backlog, Manuel said the main focus right now is ensuring people who want to vote are able to do so.
Voters can call 409-835-VOTE or visit the Secretary of State’s website to check their registration status. The deadline for voter registration is Monday, Oct. 5.
Tips about holding the government accountable can be sent to6newsaccountable@sbgtv.com.
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