STATE ERROR CAUSES BACKLOG OF VOTER REGISTRATION RECORDS FOR WASHINGTON CO. ELECTIONS OFFICE
The Washington County Elections Office is working through hundreds of backlogged voter registration applications caused by what officials are calling a “technological issue at the state level.”
In a statement late Wednesday from Washington County Elections Administrator Jennifer Gajeske, she said over the past 24 hours, county voter registrars across Texas have received a significant influx of new voter registrations and updates to voter registration records submitted through the Texas Department of Public Safety.
According to Gajeske, some of the submissions date as far back as October 2025, but were not transmitted to county voter registrars until this week. She said the delayed transmission has resulted in “a substantial statewide backlog of voter registration records requiring review and processing”, including approximately 788 records that have been received in Washington County.
Gajeske said the elections office is actively working to process the records as efficiently as possible, and that officials are “committed to ensuring that valid voter registrations submitted in a timely manner and before the applicable deadline are processed appropriately.”
Voters are encouraged to verify their voter registration information before the October 5th registration deadline.
For voters who check their registration status and see “suspense”, the status does not necessarily mean they are ineligible to vote. Voters may be placed on suspense when the voter registrar receives mail – such as a voter registration certificate or other official election correspondence – that is returned as undeliverable. They may also be placed on suspense if they do not respond to an address confirmation notice, or if election officials receive information indicating that the voter may no longer reside at the address listed on their voter registration record.
A voter in suspense may still be eligible to vote in the upcoming November general election, but they may need to update their voter registration information with their current address before voting.
Voter registration status may be verified through https://votetexas.gov or by contacting the Washington County Elections Office at 979-277-6264. Anyone with questions about their registration status or who needs assistance updating their address can call the elections office or email jennifer.gajeske@washingtoncountytx.gov.