Voter Registration Challenges, Confirmation Notices, and the Suspense List

What is a Voter Registration Challenge?

Texas law states that “a registered voter may challenge the registration of another voter of the same county”.  

• The person challenging another voter’s registration must send a sworn statement to the county’s voter registrar stating they have “personal knowledge” of a specific reason that voter’s registration may not be valid.  Typically, the stated reason for a voter registration challenge has to do with the voter’s address.

  • The county will respond to a voter registration challenge by sending a Confirmation Notice to the voter whose registration has been challenged

What is a Confirmation Notice?

Every county’s voter registrar has the responsibility of maintaining accurate voter rolls.  When there is a question about the accuracy of a voter’s registration, the voter registrar sends out a confirmation notice to that voter requesting information to confirm the accuracy of the information on their voter registration.

What Should I Do if I Receive a Confirmation Notice?

• DO NOT ignore it, forget about it, or throw it away

• Check the status of your voter registration either online or by contacting your county’s voter registrar, AND

• Reply to the notice with the requested information no later than 30 days after you receive the notice

What if I Don’t Respond to the Confirmation Notice within 30 days?

If you don’t respond to a confirmation notice within 30 days, or your name appears on a list of nonresidents in your county, then you will be placed on the Suspense List.  On the voter rolls, an ‘S’ mark will appear next to your name.

How do I remove my name from the Suspense List?

• Return the confirmation notice with the required information to your county, OR

• When you vote, you will be asked to fill out a statement of residence which will take your name off the suspense list

So if I’m on the Suspense List, I can still Vote?: YES YOU CAN!!! 

Being on the Suspense List DOES NOT cancel your voter registration unless you fail to respond to the Confirmation Notice AND do not vote in the next two General Elections after being put on the Suspense List.  So while you have time to make sure that your registration does not get canceled, you should get the issue resolved ASAP!