Texas sued over 500,000 delayed voter registrations ahead of midterms

Key points

• The League of Women Voters of Texas and MOVE Texas Civic Fund filed a lawsuit in Bexar County demanding the state honor a 2021 settlement agreement.
• The 2021 settlement required Texas to maintain a reliable online voter registration process through the Department of Public Safety (DPS) portal.
• A software error caused over 500,000 voter registration applications and updates to go unprocessed from October 2025 until September 2026.
• Plaintiffs seek a permanent injunction and proof of compliance, arguing the state breached the settlement by failing to maintain the registration system.
• The Texas Secretary of State’s Office and county officials confirmed the backlog has been cleared, though some voters may still face registration issues.
• The state offered grants to counties to cover costs related to processing the delayed records and overtime for election officials.

Background

This dispute follows a 2016 lawsuit challenging Texas’ lack of online voter registration. A 2021 settlement agreement, known as the Stringer II Settlement, required the state to provide a reliable online registration process through the DPS portal. In September 2026, a software error at the DPS caused a massive backlog of voter registration records, leading to the current lawsuit.

How outlets are covering it

Votebeat and Democracy Docket emphasize the legal breach of the 2021 settlement and the potential disenfranchisement of voters. The Texas Tribune highlights the efforts of county election officials to clear the backlog and the state’s offer of financial assistance to cover overtime costs. Some outlets note that while the backlog is cleared, the underlying issues with the state’s voter registration system, known as TEAM, may still pose challenges for future elections.

Why it matters

The lawsuit underscores the importance of reliable voter registration systems, especially ahead of critical elections. The failure to process over 500,000 registrations could have disenfranchised voters and highlighted the need for robust and transparent state election systems.

What to watch

The state is expected to respond to the lawsuit, and a judge will decide whether the registration failures constitute a breach of the 2021 settlement agreement. The state may also face further scrutiny over its voter registration systems and the need for improvements to prevent future errors.