AUSTIN, Texas — More than 1.2 million Texas voters are on the state’s voter suspense list and should check their registration addresses before the Nov. 3 election, the Texas Secretary of State’s Office said.
The suspense list includes voters whose registration records contain an address that election officials have reason to believe may no longer be current. Being placed on the list does not remove a voter from the rolls or make the voter ineligible to cast a ballot.
Alicia Pierce, assistant secretary of state for communications, urged Texans to check their registration status and update their addresses if they have moved.
“People should not see the word ‘suspense’ and be afraid that they won’t be able to cast a ballot,” Pierce told The Texas Newsroom.
Voters can check their registration status through the Texas Secretary of State’s online voter portal and update their registration through the state’s online services. The deadline to register or update a registration for the Nov. 3 election is Oct. 5.
What to do if you are on the suspense list
Voters who have not moved can still cast a ballot but must complete a Statement of Residence when voting by mail or at the polls to confirm their address.
Voters who moved within the same county can update their registration before Oct. 5. Those who do not update their address before the deadline can still vote at their previous precinct on Election Day after completing a Statement of Residence.
Voters who moved to another Texas county and did not update their registration can apply for a limited ballot during early voting at the main early voting polling place in their new county.
A limited ballot allows eligible voters to cast ballots in races and measures that appear on both their former and current county ballots.
Pierce said the number of voters on the suspense list remains consistent with levels seen during previous election cycles.
The Secretary of State’s Office encouraged voters to resolve registration issues before the Oct. 5 deadline.