Reply #9: TX: About 10,000 registered voters in Hidalgo County not assigned to precincts [View All]

[freedomfries]

About 10,000 registered voters in Hidalgo County not assigned to precincts

Andres R. Martinez
The Monitor, Edinburg, TX
April 29, 2007 - 2:05PM
http://www.themonitor.com/onset?db=monitortx&id=2023&template=article.html

EDINBURG — The names of about 10,000 registered voters in Hidalgo County will not appear on voter rolls at their precincts on Election Day, a problem in counties across the state.

However, the voters should have no problem casting their ballots, Hidalgo County Elections Administrator Teresa Navarro told the County Commissioners Court on Tuesday.

Election judges at each precinct will be able to call election headquarters if a voter’s name does not show up to confirm the voter is at the correct precinct. The name and address voters have on their driver’s license or voter registration card will be matched to the ones in a database the county maintains.

Under old voting laws, each county in Texas kept its own voter registration records. The federal Help America Vote Act of 2002 shifted the responsibility from counties to the state.
The new software the state is using doesn’t easily recognize the addresses that many voters gave when registering, effectively not assigning them a precinct.

For example, if a voter registered under the address 1400 E. Nolana and the state officially recognizes it as 1400 East Nolana, the new software system doesn’t automatically assign a precinct. In other words, there is little room for discrepancy.

If the precinct judge cannot match the person’s address on Election Day, the voter will be offered a provisional ballot.
http://www.themonitor.com/onset?db=monitortx&id=2023&template=article.html