Texas just dropped a bombshell that’s got election integrity hawks buzzing with vindication. On Monday, Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson revealed that a groundbreaking review of the state’s voter rolls flagged over 2,700 individuals as potential non-U.S. citizens, raising serious questions about who’s casting ballots in the Lone Star State.
The Christian Post reported that a meticulous check of Texas’ 18.4 million voter records, using the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database, pinpointed 2,724 possible noncitizens registered to vote.
This review, one of the first of its kind in Texas history, didn’t just stop at numbers—it’s already sparking action. Cases of potential noncitizen voting have been handed over to the Office of the Attorney General for investigation, as mandated by state election law. It’s a no-nonsense move to ensure the system isn’t being gamed.
Breaking it down by county, Harris County led the pack with 362 potential noncitizens on the rolls, followed by Dallas County with 277. Other notable figures include Bexar with 201, El Paso at 165, and Hidalgo reporting 149. It’s a scattered problem, but one that hits hardest in Texas’ urban centers.
Not every corner of the state is affected, though—about one-third of Texas’ 254 counties reported zero potential noncitizens on their voter lists. Most others flagged only a handful, often in single digits, showing this isn’t a statewide epidemic but a targeted concern worth addressing.
Now, let’s talk process: county voter registrars—whether elections administrators, clerks, or tax assessor-collectors—received the list of names last week.
Under Chapter 16 of the Texas Election Code, they’re tasked with maintaining clean local rolls, and they’ve got work to do. These officials will notify flagged voters, giving them 30 days to prove citizenship or face cancellation.
For those identified, it’s not an automatic boot from the system—yet. They’ll get a notice and a 30-day window to show proof of U.S. citizenship, and if they don’t respond, their registration gets axed. But there’s a safety net: reinstatement is immediate if they provide evidence at an elections office or even at a polling site.
Secretary Nelson isn’t mincing words on why this matters. “Everyone's right to vote is sacred and must be protected,” she declared, emphasizing the need for counties to dig deep into these cases (Jane Nelson, Secretary of State). Well, amen to that—sacred rights deserve ironclad safeguards, not loopholes for exploitation.
Nelson doubled down, stating, “Only eligible United States citizens may participate in our elections."
It’s a simple truth, but in an era of progressive overreach on voter access, it’s refreshing to hear a state official stand firm on basic eligibility. The SAVE database, as she noted, is proving to be a vital tool in this fight for integrity.
Texas isn’t just reacting—it’s also playing offense with Proposition 16, set for the Nov. 4, 2025, ballot, which would enshrine in the state constitution that only U.S. citizens can vote.
Supporters see it as a necessary clarification, while critics call it redundant since the Texas Election Code already bars noncitizen voting. Redundant or not, it’s a signal that Texans aren’t messing around with their elections.
The state is also part of a multi-state push urging the U.S. Election Assistance Commission to mandate documentary proof of citizenship on federal voter forms. In a political climate where some would rather prioritize access over accountability, this coalition is a breath of fresh air for those who value secure elections.
Looking at the bigger picture, Texas’ voter rolls currently stand at about 18.5 million, a drop of over 135,000 since last year’s presidential campaign, per The Houston Chronicle. It’s a curious decline, and one wonders if efforts like this review are starting to weed out discrepancies. Every step toward accuracy counts.
History offers context here: an audit by the Secretary of State’s office last year found over 11,000 possible noncitizens may have been registered during the 2020 presidential election.
Officials clarified that those votes didn’t sway the outcome, but the sheer number raises eyebrows. How many close local races might have been affected by such oversights?
