After Jane Nelson’s unexpected resignation, local election leaders worry her successor could complicate midterm election administration. Gov. Greg Abbott hasn’t yet named a replacement.
Natalia Contreras
Natalia Contreras covers election administration and voting access for Votebeat in partnership with The Texas Tribune. She has covered a range of topics as a community journalist including local government, public safety, immigration and social issues. Natalia previously reported for the Austin American-Statesman, focusing on impacts of government policies on communities of color. Natalia previously worked at the Indianapolis Star, where she helped launch the first Spanish-language newsletter, and at the Corpus Christi Caller-Times. She was born in Tampico, Tamaulipas in Mexico and grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas. She is based in Corpus Christi.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson stepping down
Nelson’s office oversees elections. Abbott appointed her to the role in 2023 after she became the longest-serving Republican woman in Texas Senate history.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
Texas using DPS records to confirm citizenship of voters flagged by federal database
County officials found that hundreds of the flagged voters registered through DPS, which requires proof of citizenship.
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Politics
Voting Rights Act ruling could change representation on city councils, school boards across Texas
The 1965 federal law helped Latino and Black voters gain representation in city and school boards across Texas but now that could change.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
Texas voters can face confusion as political parties run primary as they wish
Local GOP and Democratic county leaders have control, taxpayers foot the bill and voters have little recourse. But lawmakers are unlikely to change how Texas’ primary elections work.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
Some Dallas County Republicans trying to revive precinct voting that created chaos in primary
A new lawsuit wants a court to set aside an agreement to let voters use any countywide voting location for next month’s runoff.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
Dallas County GOP chair Allen West resigns after backing countywide voting for runoff
West faced opposition after backing countywide polling sites for the runoff, following a chaotic precinct-based primary.
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Politics
Feds subpoena Texas counties for voters’ records
At least three Texas counties were contacted this week by the Department of Homeland Security for detailed records about individual voters.
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2026 Texas Elections
Voting rights groups sue Texas over removal of potential noncitizens from the voter roll
The lawsuit says officials failed to check for proof of citizenship that voters may have already provided the state.
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Politics
More than 12,000 Dallas County voters showed up at wrong primary polling place
The county GOP forced the elimination of countywide polling sites on primary election day, creating confusion for voters of both parties.
