HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — The Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector and Voter Registrar’s Office identified more than 100 voter registrations linked to private post office boxes, which violates state election law, and the Texas Secretary of State has asked the office to review an additional 126 addresses, officials said.
The investigation followed a complaint filed earlier this year by state Sen. Paul Bettencourt, a Houston Republican, who noted that voters were registering at UPS locations on Westheimer Road and Waugh Drive. Bettencourt, who authored the relevant legislation, said Monday, “No one lives in a P.O. Box, and Texans cannot legally register to vote from one.”
Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson responded to Bettencourt’s complaint by sending a Dec. 23 letter to the Harris County Voter Registrar acknowledging the county’s efforts to address the issue. The office provided a list of additional addresses associated with commercial post office boxes and praised the county’s “diligent and timely efforts” to maintain accurate voter registration records.
Following the complaint, the county reviewed its voter rolls and found 60 registrations linked to the Waugh Drive UPS facility, five of which were suspended pending further information. Another 65 voters were registered at the Westheimer Road address, with 11 suspended. Notices have been sent to these voters to update their addresses; non-respondents will be placed on the suspended list.
State law generally prohibits the use of a post office box as a voter registration address, but exceptions exist for active duty military members and their families, college students living on campus, and certain individuals with safety concerns.
The office stated it “is committed to maintaining an accurate voter roll and putting voters first” and will continue working with the Secretary of State to ensure statutory duties are met.
Neither Bettencourt nor Nelson alleged that the P.O. box registrations resulted in illegal voting or affected election outcomes.
