AUSTIN, Texas — The recent announcement made by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott that the state has removed more than a million people from its voter rolls over the last few years has raised questions from a number of citizens across the state.
According to Abbott, those removed from the voter rolls included people who have moved out of state, who have died and who aren't citizens.
"There is a lot of response that we're getting from voters asking questions about, you know, 'So what does this mean for me?'" Valerie DeBill, the vice president of Voter Service with the League of Women Voters, said.
Travis County Tax Assessor and Voter Registrar Bruce Elfant said residents should not fret.
"I'm not sure what data the governor is looking at to say what he said. The counties have strict requirements for voter roll maintenance where we have to comply with state and federal law," Elfant said.
Elfant said Travis County sends out voter registration cards every two years, and the ones that are not delivered back go on a suspense list.
"We have four years for them to either show up at a polling place and vote or to reregister and then they will come off the suspense list," Elfant said. "For the people who, after four years, we haven't been able to reach and they haven't voted or reregistered, they will be removed from the rolls."
Elfant said Travis County has not removed anyone from the rolls since 2022 and will not be doing so again until after the November election.
"The vast majority are people who have either passed away or left the county, or maybe have not updated their registration," Elfant said. "People should not worry about what the governor said with regard to the list maintenance. They actually should be very happy about it because it says that the process is working."
DeBill does have concerns about younger or lower income people getting removed from the rolls because they might be more likely to move more often. Texas also does not have online voter registration.
"Young people and lower income people tend to be much more disproportionately affected by that system," DeBill said.
Elfant said anyone concerned about whether or not their vote will count should go online and check their registration status.
"I would encourage people to go to votetravis.com and ensure that they are on the voter rolls accurately," Elfant said.
The last day to register to vote is Oct. 7.