Residents questioned whether officials in the closely watched purple county will make election decisions fairly in a “hyperpartisan environment.”
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
State Government
State finds some registered Texas voters were wrongly flagged as potential noncitizens
The secretary of state told counties to immediately reinstate any Texans who were removed from the voter roll despite showing DPS proof of citizenship.
Posted in
Immigration
Texas election chief raised concerns about the federal tool used to flag potential noncitizens
Jane Nelson wrote a letter in April to federal officials to ensure they were using the most accurate data after the SAVE program flagged U.S. citizens as potential noncitizens.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
Texas lawmakers want fixes to statewide voter registration system ahead of midterms
The system has been riddled with problems since it was updated last year. Some lawmakers and election officials want it fixed by November.
Posted in
Courts
Judge blocks feds from using immigration database to check voter eligibility
A federal judge cited Texas’ use of the SAVE database, which flagged several voters who were actually citizens, and said the checks violated privacy and voting rights.
Posted in
Politics
The Texas GOP wants closed primaries. Here’s what that would mean for voters.
Gov. Greg Abbott and state party leaders want a Texas law allowing only registered Republicans to vote in GOP primaries.
Posted in
State Government
Texas takes over voter registration in Val Verde County amid struggles
The secretary of state is using a law that was originally written to focus on problems in Harris County.
Posted in
State Government
Local Texas election officials await appointment of new secretary of state as midterm preparations ramp up
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.
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.
