On Monday, Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson revealed that an investigation into the state’s election system discovered thousands of potential illegal immigrants on the voter rolls.
According to Nelson, a thorough examination of voter records indicated over 2,700 possible noncitizens among the registered voters, prompting eligibility checks in all 254 counties.
The Secretary of State’s Office conducted this review by comparing Texas’ 18 million registered voters with federal citizenship data from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ SAVE database.
“Only eligible American citizens can participate in the elections,” Nelson stated. “The decision by the Trump Administration to give states direct access to this data for the first time is a game-changer, and we are thankful for our federal partnership in verifying voter eligibility and maintaining accurate voter lists.”
The investigation identified 2,724 potential noncitizens, and their voter files have been sent back to their local counties for further examination.
This procedure is guided by Title 16 of the Texas Election Code, which mandates that counties verify voter eligibility and remove confirmed noncitizens from the rolls.
Nelson emphasized that this review is part of a broader goal to ensure accurate voter lists and uphold election integrity, especially in light of the upcoming 2026 elections. “Everyone’s right to vote is sacred,” she added, urging counties to conduct thorough investigations of potential ineligible voters.
Each flagged voter will receive a notice from their county registrar, allowing them 30 days to provide proof of U.S. citizenship. If they fail to respond, their registration will be canceled, but they can reinstate it once they prove their citizenship.
Furthermore, confirmed non-citizens who voted in previous Texas elections will be handed over to the Attorney General’s Office for possible further action.
This announcement aligns with a national trend where various states, including Georgia, Arizona, and Florida, are also examining voter rolls more closely.
Governor Greg Abbott noted that since the enactment of Senate Bill 1, Texas has eliminated over 1 million ineligible or expired registrations from its voter rolls, a crucial move for protecting voting rights in the state.
Abbott asserted that ongoing efforts aim to rigorously investigate and eliminate ineligible voters, declaring that illegal voting will not be tolerated in Texas.
He further praised the initiative as a demonstration of Texas leading the nation in election integrity.
Data released by the Secretary of State’s Office showed that Harris County has the highest number of potential noncitizens at 362, followed by Dallas County (277), Bexar County (201), and El Paso County (165). Smaller counties like Andrews, Llano, and Cook reported fewer than ten cases.
All 254 counties participated in the SAVE database review, and confirmations began this week as part of a 30-day evaluation process.
In June, Secretary Nelson had instructed the Attorney General’s Office to look into 33 potential non-citizens who voted in the November 2024 general election. This inquiry occurred shortly after Texas accessed the SAVE database.
“Having access to this database was transformative. We could pinpoint individuals who should not have voted and also verify the naturalization of many others,” Nelson remarked. This cross-checking became feasible after the Trump administration enabled states to access the federal SAVE database directly.
The tool allows election officials to compare voter citizenship status with immigration and naturalization records.
Additionally, Texas participated in a pilot program with the Department of Homeland Security, USCIS, and the Department of Justice to enhance database functionality.
Though still in the early phases of the program, Nelson noted promising results, stating that it may provide the most accurate citizenship data available.
The county registrar is expected to complete its investigation by early December. The Secretary of State’s Office will continue conducting regular checks and reviews alongside federal databases to maintain accuracy.
“The SAVE database has proven invaluable, and it’s among several resources we’ll keep using in Texas to ensure only eligible voters participate in elections,” Nelson stated.
