Bexar County resumes Voter Registration Processing After System Issues
San Antonio, TX – Bexar County has resumed processing a meaningful backlog of voter registrations following disruptions caused by the collapse of a vendor contract and a temporary reliance on a state-managed system. Registration processing, halted earlier this year, is now approximately 75% complete and expected to be finished by the end of the week, officials announced.
The slowdown stemmed from the closure of Votec,a vendor previously used by the county,which “snowballed” into a larger issue,according to Bexar County Elections Administrator Jacquelyn Carew. This prompted a temporary shift to the Texas Secretary of State’s TEAM system, a move local leaders had previously avoided. The situation underscores the challenges counties face in maintaining election readiness amid vendor instability and the critical importance of accurate voter rolls ahead of the november election. Approximately 60,000 Bexar County addresses needed verification within the state system.
Texas election officials convened promptly after the Votec declaration to formulate a plan for the upcoming election. While Bexar County will utilize the state’s free TEAM system for this election cycle, it will transition to VR Systems, a private vendor offering additional features, in the future.
“They have been engaged, responsive and supportive throughout this process,” said Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai, expressing relief at the state’s assistance.The process required sharing data with the state and ensuring all of Bexar County’s streets were accurately represented in the state’s system.
To address the backlog, the Bexar County elections Department brought on temporary staff. The resumption of processing ensures residents who recently submitted registration forms will be eligible to vote in november, provided they meet all other qualifications.