Voter Registration And Suspense List Take Center Stage Ahead Of Midterms
As the calendar brings us closer to the midterm election, it is imperative that we not miss some of the details that are oftentimes overlooked. Among these important details is Voter Registration coupled with Voter Turnout.
Election pundits often note that, in comparison, the number of registered Democrats and the number of declared Republicans show that there are more Democrats registered than Republicans yet the results have favored Republicans over the past several elections, leading to thirty years of GOP control at the top of state government.
Texas Voters On The Suspense List
Presently, Texas has been reported to have 1.2 million voters listed on the State’s Suspense List. The list is generally made up of residents in large urban counties. This is likely due to those counties having more voters moving from one address to another and overlooking the need to update their address with their County Election Department.
Upon review, Bexar County has 161,000 voters on its suspense list, up from 153,000 within the past two weeks. Harris County reportedly has 198,000 voters on its suspense list, while the Houston area, Harris County, itself has nearly 300,000 voters on that list, consisting of several smaller counties. Travis County has 151,000 voters on its suspense list with Tarrant County having about 73,000.
Suspense List Numbers Have Varied
Historically, in Texas, the number of voters showing up on suspense lists has varied, from a low of 1.13 million in November 2022 to over two million, in March 2025.
Voters Can Check Their Registration
Texas voters can use the Texas Secretary of State’s Voter Registration lookup to check on their registration and confirm if their address is correct. Voters who still live in the same county can cast a regular ballot. Voters who have moved to another county may be required to vote in their previous county or cast a provisional ballot. The deadline to register or to update a Texas Voter Registration is October 5th. Early Voting begins on October 19th to October 30th.
Questions Over The Timing
In reviewing the announced numbers, on the State’s Suspense List, my question is why has the status of so many voters not been released earlier than August or September? Is this another form of voter oppression or what?
In looking at the numbers, major Texas counties appear to be feeling the crunch with voters having to rush to ensure that they are registered and that their addresses are current.
Making A Plan To Vote
The creation of chaos by this administration, to ensure that fewer people are eligible to vote, raises additional questions. My advice has always been for voters to make a plan, vote early, and in huge numbers, so that cheating won’t have any effect on the outcomes.
In The Words Of James Baldwin
In the words of writer James Baldwin: “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”
