In Texas, authorities have reportedly identified thousands of undocumented immigrants registered to vote, with Secretary of State Jane Nelson announcing that checks against federal data highlighted 2,724 individuals who may not be eligible.
On Monday, Nelson stated that an assessment of the state’s election process led to eligibility verifications across 254 counties after the discovery of these potential illegal registrations.
“Only eligible American citizens can vote,” Nelson remarked, noting that the Trump administration had enabled states to access this data for the first time, which he referred to as a significant advancement in Texas’s election review.
The mentioned federal records come from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ database known as the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE). Nelson’s office claims this resource allows for an extensive comparison of the state’s 18 million registered voters, providing more precise information.
“We value our collaboration with the federal government in verifying the citizenship of those on our voter rolls to ensure our lists are accurate,” the Texas Secretary of State added in a statement.
Following the SAVE crosscheck, the investigation in Texas found 2,724 potential non-citizens. Their voter files were forwarded to local counties for additional review.
According to Title 16 of the state Election Code, counties are required to verify the eligibility of each voter and remove any confirmed noncitizens to uphold reliable voter lists and ensure election integrity.
These flagged voters will receive a notice from their county registrar requesting evidence of their U.S. citizenship. They will have 30 days to respond. Failing to provide proof may lead to the cancellation of their registrations, but with sufficient evidence, renewal might still be possible.
Moreover, noncitizens discovered to have previously voted in Texas elections will be reported to the Attorney General’s Office for further investigation and potential charges.
The Secretary of State’s Office also disclosed detailed data, indicating that Harris County holds the highest number of likely undocumented voters at 362, followed by Dallas County with 277, Bexar County with 201, and El Paso County with 165.
In comparison, smaller counties like Andrews, Llano, and Cook reported fewer than ten voter registrations each.
All 254 identified counties in Texas began issuing verification notices this week, launching a 30-day review process, as reported.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) mentioned that the state has eliminated over a million ineligible or expired registrations from its voter rolls since enacting Senate Bill 1 in September 2021.
“These reforms have led to the removal of more than 1 million ineligible individuals from our rolls in the past three years, including noncitizens, deceased individuals, and those who have relocated,” Abbott commented.
He continued, stating, “The Secretary of State and county registrars have an ongoing legal duty to verify voter rolls, remove ineligible voters, and report potential illegal votes for investigation and prosecution.”
Abbott emphasized, “Illegal voting will not be tolerated in Texas. We will persist in protecting elections against illegal voting while safeguarding Texans’ right to vote.”
Nelson’s office affirmed that the Texas Election Review will maintain regular checks using federal databases.
“The SAVE database has proven essential, and it’s one of several tools we will consistently utilize in Texas to ensure that only eligible voters participate in elections,” the Texas Secretary of State said.
