PROCEDURES FOR IDENTIFYING REGISTERED VOTERS

Tex. ELEC Code ch. 18
in effect

Tex. ELEC Code § 18.001. ORIGINAL LIST OF REGISTERED VOTERS.

(a) Before the beginning of early voting for the first election held in a county in each voting year, the registrar shall prepare for each county election precinct a certified list of the registered voters in the precinct. The list must contain the name of each voter whose registration will be effective on the date of the first election held in the county in the voting year. (b) On request of the authority responsible for procuring election supplies for an election authorized by law to be held in the county during the voting year for which the lists are prepared, the registrar shall furnish to the authority a list for each county election precinct wholly in the territory covered by the election. On request of the authority for an election in which a county election precinct is partly in the political subdivision or partly in a territorial unit of the political subdivision from which a member of the subdivision's governing body is elected by only the voters residing in that unit, the registrar shall furnish for each partly included county election precinct a list that contains only the names of voters who reside in the political subdivision or territorial unit, as applicable. The request for restricted lists must be accompanied by a description or map of the applicable boundary of the political subdivision or territorial unit that is in sufficient detail to enable the registrar to prepare the requested lists. The request must be delivered early enough to afford the registrar reasonable time to prepare timely lists. (c) Except as otherwise provided by this code, the list shall be used throughout the voting year. (d) An additional copy of each list shall be furnished for use in early voting. (e) In this code, "original list of registered voters" means a list prepared under this section.

Tex. ELEC Code § 18.002. SUPPLEMENTAL LIST OF REGISTERED VOTERS.

(a) For each election held in the county in a voting year, on request of the authority responsible for procuring election supplies, the registrar shall prepare and furnish to the authority a certified list supplementing each original list furnished to the authority. The list must contain the name of each voter whose registration will be effective on election day but whose name does not appear on the original list. (b) For a runoff election, as an alternative to the list required by Subsection (a), the registrar may furnish for each county election precinct wholly or partly in the territory covered by the runoff a certified list containing the name of each voter whose registration will be effective on runoff election day but whose name does not appear on the original list or on a list furnished under Subsection (a) for the main election. (c) An additional copy of each list shall be furnished for use in early voting and as needed in order to ensure all voters eligible to vote in an election appear correctly on the original list. (d) In this code, "supplemental list of registered voters" means a list prepared under this section.

Tex. ELEC Code § 18.003. REGISTRATION CORRECTION LIST.

(a) For each election held in the county in a voting year, the registrar shall prepare and furnish to the authority responsible for procuring election supplies a certified list of corrections. (b) The list must contain: (1) the name of each person for whom the information on a list of registered voters furnished under Section 18.001 or 18.002 has changed because of cancellation or correction; and (2) an indication that the person's registration has been canceled or the corrected registration information. (c) An additional copy of each list shall be furnished for use in early voting and as needed in order to ensure all voters eligible to vote in an election appear correctly on the original list. (d) In this code, "registration correction list" means a list prepared under this section.

Tex. ELEC Code § 18.004. REVISED ORIGINAL LIST.

(a) As an alternative to furnishing a supplemental list of registered voters and a correction list for an election, the registrar may furnish a certified revised original list. (b) A revised list must contain the name of each voter whose registration will be effective on election day.

Tex. ELEC Code § 18.005. FORM AND CONTENTS OF LIST.

(a) Each original and supplemental list of registered voters must: (1) contain the voter's name, date of birth, and registration number as provided by the statewide computerized voter registration list; (2) contain the voter's residence address, except as provided by Subsections (b) and (c); (3) be arranged alphabetically by voter name; and (4) contain the notation required by Section 15.111 . (b) If the voter's residence has no address, the list must contain a concise description of the location of the voter's residence. (c) The original or supplemental list of registered voters may not contain the residence address of a voter whose residence address is confidential under Section 13.004 . Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 87 (S.B. 1969 ), Sec. 8.001, eff. September 1, 2009. Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 465 (S.B. 281 ), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2009.

Tex. ELEC Code § 18.006. DELIVERY OF LISTS TO ELECTION AUTHORITIES.

The registrar shall deliver the lists furnished under this subchapter, including the lists furnished under Section 18.007 , to the appropriate authority as soon as practicable after the request but in every case in time for receipt before the beginning of early voting by mail for the election in which the lists are to be used. If those lists do not contain the names of all voters who will be eligible to vote as of the beginning of early voting by personal appearance, another set of the appropriate lists shall be delivered before the beginning of early voting by personal appearance. If those lists do not contain the names of all voters whose registrations will be effective on election day, another set of the appropriate lists shall be delivered as soon as practicable after the registrar has processed the remaining applications.

Tex. ELEC Code § 18.007. LISTS FURNISHED FOR PRECINCT CONVENTIONS.

In a voting year in which a political party holds precinct conventions in the county under Title 10, the registrar, on request of the party's county chair, shall furnish to the chair for use in qualifying individuals for participation in the conventions one of each of the original, supplemental, and correction lists prescribed by this subchapter.

Tex. ELEC Code § 18.008. COPIES FURNISHED ON REQUEST.

(a) The registrar shall furnish a copy of any list prepared under this subchapter to any person requesting it. The copy shall be furnished without the names of voters whose names appear on a list with the notation "S", or a similar notation, if requested in that form. (b) The list shall be furnished as soon as practicable after the request but not later than the 15th day after the date the registrar receives the request or completes preparation of the list from which the copy is to be made, whichever is later. (c) Repealed by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 711 (H.B. 3107 ), Sec. 99(4), eff. September 1, 2021. (d) The copy must be accompanied by a written notice of the criminal penalty prescribed by Section 18.009 .

Tex. ELEC Code § 18.009. UNLAWFUL USE OF INFORMATION ON REGISTRATION LIST.

(a) A person commits an offense if the person uses information in connection with advertising or promoting commercial products or services that the person knows was obtained under Section 18.008 . (b) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.

Tex. ELEC Code § 18.010. FEES.

(a) The registrar may not charge a fee for furnishing lists required to be furnished under this subchapter except as authorized by this section. (b) The fee for each list furnished under Section 18.008 may not exceed the actual expense incurred in reproducing the list for the person requesting it and shall be uniform for each type of copy furnished. (c) The registrar shall use fees collected under this section to defray expenses incurred in the preparation of the copy.

Tex. ELEC Code § 18.011. FILE OF LISTS FOR COUNTYWIDE ELECTION.

(a) The registrar shall maintain a file containing one of each of the lists prepared under this subchapter for each countywide election. (b) The registrar shall retain each list on file for two years after election day except a list used in a presidential election, which shall be retained for four years after election day.

Tex. ELEC Code § 18.012. SECRETARY OF STATE TO APPROVE COMPUTER SERVICES CONTRACTS.

(a) A county may not contract with a computer service company or other private business entity for services related to the lists required under this subchapter unless the programs, equipment, or other materials to be covered by the contract are approved by the secretary of state. The secretary may rescind approval of the programs, equipment, or other materials at any time, and on that action the contract is nullified to the extent that it depends on the disapproved items. (b) A computer service company or other private business entity may not use modified programs, equipment, or other materials under the contract unless the modifications are approved by the secretary of state. (c) A person commits an offense if the person violates Subsection (b). An offense under this subsection is a Class A misdemeanor.

Tex. ELEC Code § 18.013. POLITICAL SUBDIVISION LIST IN CERTAIN COUNTIES.

(a) On the written request of any resident of a political subdivision of which more than one-half of the political subdivision's territory is situated in a county with a population of 25,000 or less, the registrar of a county in which the political subdivision is wholly or partly situated shall prepare and furnish to the person a list containing the registered voters of that county who reside in the political subdivision or, if requested, who reside in a territorial unit of the political subdivision from which a member of the subdivision's governing body is elected by only the voters residing in the territorial unit. (b) A request under Subsection (a) must be accompanied by a description or map, if a map is available, of the boundary of the political subdivision or territorial unit. The boundary information must be of sufficient detail to enable the registrar to prepare the requested list. (c) The list must contain the name of each voter whose registration is effective on the date the list is furnished and must comply with the requirements as to form and content prescribed by Section 18.005 . (d) The list shall be furnished as soon as practicable after the request but not later than the 30th day after the date the registrar receives the request and boundary description or map. (e) The registrar may charge a fee for the list not to exceed the actual expense incurred in preparing the list. The fees shall be used to defray expenses incurred in preparing the lists. (f) Section 18.009 applies to the use of information obtained under Subsection (a). (g) Except as provided by this section, this subchapter does not apply to a list furnished under this section. Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 517, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1991. SUBCHAPTER B. REGISTRATION STATEMENTS

Tex. ELEC Code § 18.043. STATEMENT REQUIRED UNDER FEDERAL LAW.

(a) At the times prescribed by the secretary of state, the registrar shall deliver to the secretary a statement containing the voter registration information determined by the secretary to be necessary to comply with reporting requirements prescribed under federal law. (b) The secretary of state shall prescribe the form, content, and procedure for each statement required under this section. (c) The registrar shall maintain the information required for the statements in accordance with procedures prescribed by the secretary of state. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 797, Sec. 29, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. SUBCHAPTER C. STATEWIDE VOTER REGISTRATION LIST

Tex. ELEC Code § 18.061. STATEWIDE COMPUTERIZED VOTER REGISTRATION LIST.

(a) The secretary of state shall implement and maintain a statewide computerized voter registration list that serves as the single system for storing and managing the official list of registered voters in the state. (b) The statewide computerized voter registration list must: (1) contain the name and registration information of each voter registered in the state; (2) assign a unique identifier to each registered voter; and (3) be available to any county election official in the state through immediate electronic access. (c) Under procedures prescribed by the secretary of state, each voter registrar shall provide to the secretary of state on an expedited basis the information necessary to maintain the registration list established under Subsection (a). The procedures shall provide for the electronic submission of the information and ensure that each voter registrar collects and reports the correct month, day, and year of birth for each registered voter. (d) The secretary of state may contract with counties to provide them with electronic data services to facilitate the implementation and maintenance of the statewide computerized voter registration list. The secretary shall use funds collected under the contracts to defray expenses incurred in implementing and maintaining the statewide computerized voter registration list. (e) The secretary of state shall prescribe procedures to ensure that when a voter registers in another county, as determined under Section 16.031 (a)(6), the statewide computerized voter registration list is updated to reflect the voter's registration in the new county.

Tex. ELEC Code § 18.062. INTERSTATE VOTER REGISTRATION CROSSCHECK PROGRAM.

(a) To maintain the statewide voter registration list and to prevent duplication of registration in more than one state or jurisdiction, the secretary of state shall: (1) cooperate with other states and jurisdictions to develop systems to compare voters, voter history, and voter registration lists to identify voters: (A) whose addresses have changed; (B) who are not qualified under Section 11.002 (a)(4); or (C) who are registered to vote in more than one state; or (2) identify and contract with the provider of a private sector data system to identify voters: (A) whose addresses have changed; (B) who are registered to vote in more than one state; (C) who are deceased; or (D) who are not qualified under Section 11.002 (a)(4). (a-1) A private sector data system under Subsection (a)(2) must have demonstrated an ability to work with registered voter identification and matching systems. (b) A system developed under this section and any vendor involved with the system must comply with: (1) the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Section 20501 et seq.) and the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. Section 20901 et seq.); and (2) all state and federal laws relating to the protection of personal information. (c) The cost to begin operations with a system under Subsection (a)(2) may not exceed $100,000. (d) The cost of continuing operations with a system under Subsection (a)(2) may not exceed one dollar for each voter identified under Subsection (a)(2). (e) The secretary of state may not provide to a system under Subsection (a)(2) any information that is not: (1) found in a voter roll; and (2) necessary to identify voters under Subsection (a)(2). (f) The secretary of state shall record information related to the system under Subsection (a)(2) and shall submit to the legislature a report on that information not later than the first day of each quarter of the state's fiscal year. (g) A contract with a system under Subsection (a)(2) may not require any additional duty of the state not required by this section. (h) The secretary of state may not contract with a private sector data system under Subsection (a)(2) unless the system: (1) requires a background check for each employee of a potential vendor for the system; and (2) uses data from the National Change of Address database. (i) In addition to using a system described by Subsection (a), the secretary of state shall use data from the National Change of Address database to identify voters whose addresses have changed for the purpose of preventing duplication of registration in more than one state or jurisdiction. Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 473 (S.B. 795 ), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015.

Tex. ELEC Code § 18.064. SANCTION FOR NONCOMPLIANCE.

If a registrar fails to substantially comply with Section 15.083 , 16.032 , or 18.061 or with rules adopted by the secretary of state implementing the statewide computerized voter registration list, the registrar is not entitled to receive state funds for financing voter registration in the county. Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1164 (H.B. 2817 ), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2011.

Tex. ELEC Code § 18.065. SECRETARY OF STATE TO MONITOR REGISTRAR'S COMPLIANCE.

(a) The secretary of state shall monitor each registrar for substantial compliance with Sections 15.083 , 16.032 , and 18.061 and with rules implementing the statewide computerized voter registration list. (b) On determining that a registrar is not in substantial compliance, the secretary shall deliver written notice of the noncompliance to the registrar and include in the notice a description of the violation and an explanation of the action necessary for substantial compliance and of the consequences of noncompliance. (c) On determining that a noncomplying registrar has corrected the violation and is in substantial compliance, the secretary shall deliver written notice to the registrar that the registrar is in substantial compliance. (d) The secretary shall retain a copy of each notice the secretary delivers under this section for two years after the date the notice is delivered. (e) If the secretary of state determines that a voter registrar is not in substantial compliance with a requirement imposed on the registrar by a provision or rule described in Subsection (a), the secretary of state shall: (1) for the first violation, require the registrar to attend a training course under Subsection (h); (2) for the second violation, audit the voter registration list for the county in which the registrar serves to determine the actions needed to achieve substantial compliance under Subsection (a) and provide the results of the audit to the registrar; or (3) for a third or subsequent violation, if the secretary of state determines that the registrar has not performed any overt actions in pursuance of compliance with the actions identified under Subdivision (2) as necessary for the registrar to achieve substantial compliance under Subsection (a) within 14 days of receiving the results of the audit conducted under that subsection, inform the attorney general that the county which the registrar serves may be subject to a civil penalty under Subsection (f). (f) A county is liable to this state for a civil penalty of $1,000 for each day after the 14th day following the receipt of the results of the audit conducted under Subsection (e)(2) that the county's voter registrar fails to take overt action to comply with the actions identified under that subsection as necessary for the registrar to achieve substantial compliance under Subsection (a). The attorney general may bring an action to recover a civil penalty imposed under this section. (g) A civil penalty collected by the attorney general under this section shall be deposited in the state treasury to the credit of the general revenue fund. (h) The secretary of state shall develop and implement a training course for registrars on substantial compliance with Sections 15.083 , 16.032 , and 18.061 and with rules implementing the statewide computerized voter registration list. (i) The secretary of state shall adopt rules and prescribe procedures for the implementation of this section. Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1164 (H.B. 2817 ), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2011. Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 4 (S.B. 1 ), Sec. 15.01, eff. September 28, 2011.

Tex. ELEC Code § 18.066. AVAILABILITY OF STATEWIDE COMPUTERIZED VOTER REGISTRATION LIST INFORMATION.

(a) The secretary of state shall furnish information in the statewide computerized voter registration list to any person on request not later than the 15th day after the date the request is received. (b) Information furnished under this section may not include: (1) a voter's social security number; or (2) the residence address of a voter whose residence address is confidential under Section 13.004 . (c) The secretary shall furnish the information in the form and order in which it is stored or if practicable in any other form or order requested. (d) To receive information under this section, a person must submit an affidavit to the secretary stating that the person will not use the information obtained in connection with advertising or promoting commercial products or services. (e) The secretary may prescribe a schedule of fees for furnishing information under this section. A fee may not exceed the actual expense incurred in reproducing the information requested. (f) The secretary shall use fees collected under this section to defray expenses incurred in the furnishing of the information. Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 465 (S.B. 281 ), Sec. 6, eff. September 1, 2009.

Tex. ELEC Code § 18.067. UNLAWFUL USE OF STATEWIDE COMPUTERIZED VOTER REGISTRATION LIST.

(a) A person commits an offense if the person uses information in connection with advertising or promoting commercial products or services that the person knows was obtained under Section 18.066 . (b) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.

Tex. ELEC Code § 18.068. COMPARISON OF INFORMATION REGARDING INELIGIBILITY.

(a) The secretary of state shall quarterly compare the information received under Section 16.001 of this code and Sections 62.113 and 62.114 , Government Code, to the statewide computerized voter registration list. If the secretary determines that a voter on the registration list is deceased or has been excused or disqualified from jury service because the voter is not a citizen or a resident of the county in which the voter is registered to vote, the secretary shall send notice of the determination to the voter registrar of the counties considered appropriate by the secretary. (a-1) The secretary of state is not required to send notice under Subsection (a) for a voter who is subject to an exemption from jury service under Section 62.106 , Government Code, if that exemption is the only reason the voter is excused from jury service. (b) The secretary of state shall by rule determine what information combinations identified as common to a voter and to an individual who is deceased constitute a weak match or a strong match in order to: (1) produce the least possible impact on Texas voters; and (2) fulfill its responsibility to manage the voter rolls. (c) The secretary of state may not determine that a voter is deceased based on a weak match. The secretary of state may inform the county of the voter's residence that a weak match exists. (d) On receiving notification from the secretary of state under Subsection (c) that a weak match of identifying information exists for a county voter and an individual who is deceased, the county shall investigate whether the voter is the individual who is deceased. (e) The secretary of state may determine that a voter is deceased based on a strong match. (f) The secretary of state may obtain, for purposes of determining whether a voter is deceased, information from other state agency databases relating to a voter that is the same type of information that the secretary of state or a voter registrar collects or stores for voter registration purposes. Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 683 (H.B. 174 ), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2011. Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1093 (H.B. 3593 ), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2013.

Tex. ELEC Code § 18.069. VOTING HISTORY.

Not later than the 30th day after the date of the primary, runoff primary, or general election or any special election ordered by the governor, the general custodian of election records shall electronically submit to the secretary of state the record of each voter participating in the election. The record must include a notation of whether the voter voted on election day, voted early by personal appearance, voted early by mail under Chapter 86 , or voted early by mail under Chapter 101 . Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1164 (H.B. 2817 ), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2011. Redesignated from Election Code, Section 18.068 by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 161 (S.B. 1093 ), Sec. 22.001(14), eff. September 1, 2013.

Tex. ELEC Code § 18.0121. CONTRACT TO INVESTIGATE VOTER ELIGIBILITY.

A list of potentially ineligible voters produced for a county by a private business entity may not be made available to the public or otherwise used by the registrar unless the registrar has verified the accuracy of the information on the list through available public records. Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 555, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.

Tex. ELEC Code § 18.0625. USE OF DRIVER'S LICENSE DATA.

(a) To maintain the statewide voter registration list and to prevent duplication of registration in more than one state or jurisdiction, the secretary of state shall use data of registered voters who apply for a driver's license or personal identification card in another state to identify voters: (1) whose addresses have changed; (2) who are not qualified under Section 11.002 (a)(4); or (3) who are registered to vote in more than one state. (b) For purposes of implementing this section, the Department of Public Safety shall share with the secretary of state any data related to individuals who hold a driver's license or personal identification card in this state and who apply for a driver's license or personal identification card in another state. (c) The secretary of state may, in consultation with the Department of Public Safety, adopt rules and establish procedures for the administration of this section. Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 834 (S.B. 1470 ), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2025.

Tex. ELEC Code § 18.0681. SECRETARY OF STATE AUTHORITY TO ELIMINATE DUPLICATE REGISTRATION RECORDS.

(a) The secretary of state shall periodically compare the information regarding voters maintained as part of the statewide computerized voter registration list to determine whether any voters have more than one voter registration record on file. (b) The secretary of state shall by rule determine what information combinations identified as common to more than one registration record constitute a weak match or a strong match in order to: (1) produce the least possible impact on Texas voters; and (2) fulfill its responsibility to manage the voter rolls. (c) The secretary of state may not determine that a voter has more than one registration record based on a weak match. The secretary of state may inform the county of the voter's residence that a weak match exists. (d) If the secretary of state determines that a voter on the registration list has more than one registration record on file based on a strong match, the secretary shall send notice of the determination to the voter registrar of the county with the oldest registration record in which the voter is registered to vote. If the voter records identified are: (1) located in the same county, the voter registrar may merge the records following a determination that each record belongs to the same voter using the procedure for the correction of registration records under Section 15.022 ; or (2) located in more than one county, the registrar of the county with the oldest record may deliver a written confirmation notice in accordance with Section 15.051 or cancel the registration of the voter in accordance with Section 16.031 (a)(1), provided that the voter's record in the county with the newest registration record is not on the suspense list. Added by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 713 (H.B. 4034 ), Sec. 4, eff. June 12, 2017.
Source: TX Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Fetched: 6/29/2026