Texas AG Candidate Targets Deloitte Contracts Amid Voter Registration Backlog

Key points

• Nathan Johnson, the Democratic nominee for Texas Attorney General, announced plans to review state contracts with outside vendors if elected, citing the Deloitte-related voter registration failure as a symptom of broader outsourcing issues.
• A software update installed by Deloitte on Department of Public Safety (DPS) servers in October 2025 caused a backlog of at least 178,000 to 200,000 unprocessed voter registration applications and updates.
• The error was discovered in mid-September, just weeks before the October 5 voter registration deadline, forcing county registrars to process a massive surge of records ahead of the November 3 election.
• Deloitte currently holds 30 active contracts with 16 Texas state agencies totaling $2.02 billion, including six contracts with DPS valued at $84.46 million.
• Texas is one of only eight states without universal online voter registration; the affected portal is a limited option for those with driver’s licenses, which has been in use since 2020.

Background

Previous coverage in September 2026 highlighted the initial discovery of the DPS glitch, noting that tens of thousands of applications were unprocessed. Estimates varied from over 100,000 to potentially 750,000 affected records, though the most recent figures center around 178,000 to 200,000. State officials had previously assured voters that provisional ballots would be counted if registration was verified, but local election officials reported logistical strains and concerns about the new TEAM system’s interface limitations.

How outlets are covering it

CNBC emphasizes the political angle, highlighting Johnson’s critique of Republican efforts to shrink government by outsourcing essential duties, and notes his polling deficit against Republican Mayes Middleton. Votebeat focuses on the administrative and voter access implications, detailing how the error exposes the fragility of Texas’s restricted online registration system and the logistical burden on county officials, such as the 30-record limit in the TEAM system. Both sources agree on the scale of the backlog but differ in focus: CNBC frames it as a governance failure requiring investigation, while Votebeat frames it as a systemic barrier to voting access that may disenfranchise voters despite provisional ballot assurances.

Why it matters

The incident threatens voter confidence and the integrity of the 2026 midterm elections in Texas, a pivotal state for national races. It highlights the risks of relying on third-party vendors for critical election infrastructure and may influence future legislation regarding online voter registration and vendor oversight. The controversy also impacts the Attorney General race, potentially shaping the narrative around state accountability and election administration.

What to watch

County registrars are racing to process the backlog before the October 5 deadline. The Texas Secretary of State’s office is providing grant funding to offset additional personnel costs. Johnson’s campaign will likely continue to press for a formal investigation into Deloitte and other state contracts. State Rep. Mihaela Plesa is pushing for tighter protocols in the upcoming legislative session to ensure faster alerts and repairs for future errors. The outcome of the November 3 elections will be closely watched for any signs of voter suppression or confusion related to the registration backlog.