WASHINGTON CO. CLERK ADDRESSES CONCERNS REGARDING “OUTDATED” VOTER APPLICATIONS

  

The office of Washington County Clerk Beth Rothermel has issued a statement, following reports of voters receiving “outdated” voter registration applications.

According to Rothermel, an organization called Engage Texas has been sending out voter registration applications across the state of Texas, including Washington County.

In her statement, Rothermel says her office has not had “any direct contact” with Engage Texas. She says, however, that the organization is “evidently using an outdated list” as many of the recipients of applications “are already registered to vote or are deceased”.

Rothermel says there are many people that have called her office to report they have received applications for deceased family members, some of which have been dead for many years. She says it has been upsetting to many to receive these applications with the deceased family member’s name on it, and her office apologizes for any distress caused.

Rothermel says she wants to assure the public that Washington County Voter Registration is not sending these voter applications out, nor have they given Engage Texas a list of names to use for mailing anything.

Rothermel adds that, while it is understandable there is a drive to get everyone over 18 registered to vote, it is concerning when there are questions about the election process, especially in this “day and time of concern about our election process”. She cautions that there may be other groups or organizations that have or will send out voter registrations.

Rothermel says official orange and white voter registration cards have been mailed out, and those over 18 years of age that are registered should have received one. If one is received, that means that person is registered in Washington County.

Rothermel advises voters to let her office know if they have moved and have not received an orange voter registration card.  She says voter cards will not follow voters to their new address; addresses need to be formally updated at the county clerk’s office, or at the DPS office.