Texas has addressed a backlog of tens of thousands of voter registration applications caused by a processing error at the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Alicia Pierce, a spokesperson for the Texas Secretary of State's office, told USA TODAY that Texas counties have worked diligently to clear the backlog from when voters tried to renew their driver's licenses and register to vote through DPS's website.
"We don't know of any counties with pending applications. Our office will continue to support counties,
including issuing grants to cover the costs of overtime and hiring temporary workers," Pierce said in a statement.
Pierce said the effective date for voter registration will be the day of the DPS transaction. If that transaction is on or before
Oct. 5, the voter registration will be in time for the Nov. 3 Election, even if it is processed later.
The agency also said it does not anticipate any backlog-related issues. However, Pierce said if a voter registered through DPS online services but does not appear on the rolls, they can cast a provisional ballot.
"Election officials have an established method with DPS to check the transaction. If that voter did register through DPS, the vote will be counted," Pierce said.
Even as the Secretary of State's Office says it has cleared the backlog, the League of Women Voters of Texas and MOVE Texas Civic Fund sued state officials in Bexar County on Oct. 9, seeking a court order to prevent future registration delays. The lawsuit names Texas Secretary of State Robert Howden and DPS Director Freeman Martin as defendants.
What caused the backlog?
In Texas, voters can register to vote when renewing their driver's license online through DPS's website.
The New York Times reports that the backlog stemmed from a website error in which voters who checked “yes” to register to vote between December 2025 and February 2026 received a receipt confirming their choice; however, their data was never recorded.
Mateo Rosiles is the Texas Connect reporter for USA TODAY and its regional papers in Texas, based in Austin. Got a news tip for him? Email him at mrosiles@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Texas clears voter registration backlog days before early voting
