Texas just finished cross-checking every single registered voter in the state—all 18 million of them—against a federal citizenship database.
The result? Officials identified 2,724 people who might not be U.S. citizens but are registered to vote anyway. Your county now has to investigate each case and figure out who stays on the rolls and who gets removed.
What Happens Next in Your County
Counties across Texas just received files on potential noncitizens registered in their jurisdictions. Your local voter registrar must now investigate each person on that list.
If you’re one of the 2,724 people flagged, you’ll get a notice in the mail from your county. You have 30 days to prove you’re a U.S. citizen by showing documents like a birth certificate, passport, or naturalization papers to your county elections office.
Don’t respond within 30 days? Your registration gets cancelled. But here’s the thing—if your registration gets cancelled and you later prove citizenship, you can reinstate it immediately at any elections office or even at a polling location on election day.
The Federal Database That Made This Possible
Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson says the Trump Administration gave states something they’ve never had before—direct, free access to the SAVE database run by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
“Only eligible United States citizens may participate in our elections,” Nelson said. “The Trump Administration’s decision to give states free and direct access to this data set for the first time has been a game changer.”
Texas became one of the first states to partner with the federal government on this citizenship verification project. Officials already used the database once before to review voters from the November 2024 election, which led to 33 voters being referred to the Attorney General’s office back in June.
Your Vote Still Counts—If You’re Eligible
Nelson emphasized that everyone’s right to vote remains protected. Counties must conduct thorough investigations before removing anyone from the rolls, just like they do with any other voter eligibility issue.
The process follows Texas Election Code Sections 16.033 and 16.0332, which spell out exactly how counties must handle potential noncitizen voters. These aren’t new rules—they’re the same procedures counties have always used to maintain accurate voter lists.
Anyone found to be a noncitizen who voted in a Texas election will be referred to the Attorney General’s office for potential prosecution.
Check Your County’s Numbers
Want to know how many potential noncitizens are registered in your county? The Secretary of State’s office released a county-by-county breakdown of the 2,724 flagged registrations.
Nelson says Texas will keep using the SAVE database along with other tools to verify voter eligibility. “We will continue to use [these tools] in Texas to ensure that only qualified voters cast a ballot in our elections,” she said.
What This Means for You
If you’re a U.S. citizen registered to vote in Texas, nothing changes. Keep voting in every election.
If you receive a notice from your county questioning your citizenship, respond within 30 days with proof. Don’t ignore it—your registration depends on your response.
If you’re not a U.S. citizen, registering to vote or voting in Texas elections is illegal and will result in criminal prosecution.
More Information
Texas Secretary of State: sos.texas.gov
County-level data breakdown: Available on the Secretary of State’s website
Texas Election Code Chapter 16: Outlines voter registration maintenance procedures
