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Election Advisory No. 2024-19

To: All Election Officials
From: Christina Worrell Adkins, Director of Elections
Christina Adkins signature
Date: June 4, 2024
RE: Citizenship Requirements for Texas Elections

Our office has received a number of questions regarding the legal prohibitions on non-United States citizens registering to vote and voting in Texas elections.

The purpose of this advisory is to outline the relevant provisions enshrined in federal law and state law that deny voter registration and voting by non-U.S. citizens. These well-established provisions make clear that only eligible U.S. citizens can register to vote in the State and cast ballots in Texas elections. Texas law also unambiguously assigns to county voter registrars the responsibility to remove noncitizens and other ineligible voters from the State’s voter rolls, but the Secretary of State’s office can and will work with counties on that process.

Federal Law

Several provisions of federal law prohibit noncitizens from registering and voting in federal elections.

Texas Law

Texas law similarly prohibits noncitizens from registering and voting in state and local elections.

Voter Registration Form

The state-designed and federally approved Texas voter registration application requires the applicant to state affirmatively that he or she is a United States citizen. The registration application states that it is a criminal offense under both state and federal law to give false information in order to procure a voter registration.

The cistizenship question is displayed on the voter application.
Citizenship Question on Voter Registration Application

Application has a section for a signature
Affirmations on Voter Registration Application

Voter Registration List Maintenance

There are additional safeguards built into Texas law that help voter registrars identify noncitizens in order to remove these registrations from the Texas voter rolls and prevent noncitizens from voting in Texas elections.

determines the voter’s response does not show the voter is eligible for registration; or each notice mailed to the voter is returned as undeliverable with no forwarding information. [Sec. 16.033, Texas Election Code]

If you have any questions regarding this advisory, please contact the Elections Division toll-free at 1-800-252-VOTE (8683).

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