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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 the suspense list?

It’s an address verification list. If the voter registrar receives information that “a voter's current residence is different from that indicated on the registration records,” then the registrar must send a Confirmation Notice to the voter (titled Notice of Address Confirmation). As soon as the Confirmation Notice is sent, the voter is put on the Suspense List until the registrar can confirm the voter’s current residence.

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What is a Confirmation Notice?

Every county’s voter registrar has the responsibility of maintaining accurate voter rolls. Every two years, the voter registrar sends every registered voter a new voter registration certificate. If the voter registration certificate is returned as “undeliverable” by the U.S. Postal Service, then a voter will be placed on the Suspense List and be sent a Confirmation Notice.

 

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. But you can still vote if you submit a Statement of Residence.

 

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, 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!

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