Texas Officials Say Software Glitch Delayed Nearly 600,000 Voter Registrations
A programming error in the driver’s license portal caused a massive backlog of voter applications, prompting a lawsuit and emergency fixes.
Key points
- Texas attributes nearly 600,000 delayed voter registrations to a software glitch in the DPS online portal.
- Voter advocacy groups sued state officials, alleging the delay constitutes voter suppression.
- A second error affected 15,000 registrations just weeks before early voting begins on Oct. 19.
Texas Secretary of State Robert S. Howden’s office stated this week that a software glitch has been fixed after it delayed the processing of nearly 600,000 voter registration applications. The backlog, which began accumulating approximately one year ago, stemmed from a programming error within the Department of Public Safety’s online driver’s license portal. According to CNET, the state confirmed that these delayed applications have now been filed with voters’ respective home districts.
The technical failure disrupted the process by which Texans register to vote or update their existing registration while renewing or obtaining a driver’s license. The secretary of state’s office initially described the issue broadly as a “computer glitch.” Subsequent reporting clarified that the root cause was a specific programming error introduced during a software update to the DPS portal. No further technical details regarding the specific code failure or vulnerability type have been released by state authorities.
Legal and Administrative Response
The extensive delay has triggered legal action from voter advocacy organizations. The League of Women Voters Texas and MOVE Texas Civic Fund filed a lawsuit in Bexar County, Texas. The complaint names Secretary of State Howden and Department of Public Safety Director Freeman F. Martin as defendants. The plaintiffs characterize the registration delays as part of a broader pattern of voter suppression that has disenfranchised residents in the state.
While the secretary of state’s office announced that the primary backlog has been resolved, county election officials remain under pressure. A spokesperson for the secretary of state indicated that any voters still affected by the initial glitch would be eligible to cast a provisional ballot as a safeguard. However, representatives from both the secretary of state and the DPS did not immediately return requests for comment regarding the ongoing operational challenges.
Compounding System Errors
Complications have arisen again just as the initial crisis appeared to be resolving. According to The Texas Tribune, county officials discovered a separate system error that has caused issues with an additional 15,000 registrations over the last month. This new backlog emerged shortly before the start of early voting on Oct. 19, during a high-profile midterm election season that has drawn national attention to Texas.
Chris McGinn, executive director of the Texas Association of County Election Officials, expressed frustration with the timing of the second error. He noted that counties were just beginning to manage the initial delay when this unexpected new backlog was introduced. Registrars are now scrambling to correct these records to ensure voters can participate in the upcoming elections without further administrative barriers.
What should you do?
Voters in Texas should verify their registration status through official state channels well before the early voting period begins. If you have recently renewed a driver’s license or applied for voter registration, check whether your application was successfully processed. Contact your local county election office if you encounter discrepancies or if you believe your registration was part of the reported backlog.
What to do and how to stay safe: Texas Department of Public Safety
- Verify your current voter registration status using your county election office website or state database.
- Confirm that your address and personal information are up to date in the voter rolls.
- Monitor official communications from the Texas Secretary of State for updates on registration processing.
- Be prepared to cast a provisional ballot if your registration status is unclear on Election Day.
Step-by-step guide: Mobile Device Security: How to Protect Data Beyond Passwords
General security guidance from the Threat Times newsroom. It is not confirmed advice from the organisations named in this story.
Frequently asked questions
How many voter registrations were delayed by the glitch?
The state reported that nearly 600,000 voter registration applications were delayed due to the software error.
What caused the voter registration backlog?
The delay was caused by a programming error in a software update to the Department of Public Safety’s online driver’s license portal.
Is there another issue affecting voter registrations?
Yes, a separate system error has affected an additional 15,000 registrations in the last month, according to The Texas Tribune.
