SAN ANTONIO \u2013 On top of critical choices on the ballot, voters are also faced with some confusion ahead of the Nov. 3 election. <\/p>\n
As of Friday, Sept. 25, nearly 159,000 Bexar County voters were on the state\u2019s \u201csuspense list,\u201d prompting election officials to remind residents to verify their address information.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of voters have been calling in wanting more information about it,\u201d said Michelle Carew, Bexar County elections administrator. \u201cBasically in a nutshell, we\u2019ve mailed something to you or you have let the courts know that you no longer live at an address, which now has flagged you as for us to put you on suspense.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carew says the suspense list has existed since 1995 and the number of voters currently on this list is lower than four years ago.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe fastest way for voters to be removed from the list is to submit a new voter registration application,\u201d said Carew. \u201cThe county must receive the application by Oct. 5.\u201d<\/p>\n
Voters who remain on the suspense list when they go to the polls may still be able to cast a regular ballot. <\/p>\n
Those who still live at the address where they are registered, or who have moved within Bexar County, can complete a \u201cstatement of residence\u201d at the polling place to verify their address. <\/p>\n
Voters who have moved to another county or precinct may be limited to races that apply to their current address, such as statewide contests or races within their precinct.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Bexar County elections officials are also dealing with a backlog of voter registration applications connected to what the Texas Department of Public Safety has called an error. <\/p>\n
DPS failed to send voter registration information to local elections offices. <\/p>\n
\u201cNearly 50,000 applications were waiting to be processed as of Friday,\u201d Carew said. \u201cThe Texas Secretary of State\u2019s office told county officials the issue may date back to October 2025.\u201d<\/p>\n
The backlog could grow as additional applications are received.<\/p>\n
The Bexar County Elections office has hired additional staff and is working extended hours to clear the backlog. <\/p>\n
\u201cProcessing the applications requires more than entering information into the voter registration system,\u201d Carew said. \u201cElection workers must review each voter\u2019s profile to determine whether the application has already been processed or whether the voter has moved again.\u201d<\/p>\n
Voter registrations must be submitted by Oct. 5 and processed before early voting begins Oct. 19. <\/p>\n
Carew said the elections office cleared a backlog of more than 75,000 applications in 10 days before elections in 2025. <\/p>\n
When asked whether election-related backlogs have become the new normal, Carew said she hopes not.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it definitely feels like Groundhog Day,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
To check your voter registration status in Bexar County, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n