Key facts
- Over 1.2 million voters in Texas are on a 'suspense list' requiring address confirmation.
- Voters on the suspense list are not prevented from voting.
- The suspense list is a routine process to maintain accurate voter registration rolls.
- Voters can confirm their address by submitting a registration application or a statement of residence form.
- The process has been in place for over 30 years and is consistent with previous election cycles.
Concerns have been raised on social media regarding Texas' 'suspense list' of over 1.2 million voters, with some claiming it indicates efforts to tamper with upcoming elections. However, officials and nonpartisan groups clarify that inclusion on this list does not cancel a voter's registration and they can still cast a ballot.
As of March 2026, approximately 1.2 million Texans, or 6.6% of the state's 18 million registered voters, were designated as 'suspense voters.' This status requires voters to confirm their residential addresses before voting. The process, established over 30 years ago, is a routine measure to ensure the accuracy of voter registration rolls, according to the Texas Secretary of State’s Office.
Voters are placed on the suspense list if election officials have uncertainty about their current residence, often due to returned mail or other indicators of a potential move. A notice is sent to these voters requesting address confirmation. Mark Lindeman of Verified Voting emphasized that this is a standard list maintenance process used nationwide and encouraged voters to check their registration status.
Alicia Pierce, a spokesperson for the Texas Secretary of State’s Office, stated that the current numbers are consistent with previous election cycles and that the suspense list has been utilized for many years. Voters who have moved can update their address by submitting a new registration application by October 5. Those who moved within the same county can vote by completing a statement of residence form, while those who moved to a new county can cast a limited ballot during early voting.
Voters on the suspense list who have not moved can confirm their address by completing a statement of residence form. Under state and federal law, voter registration is only canceled after a notice of potential cancellation and two subsequent federal election cycles pass without response or voting activity. Chris Mann of the Center for Election Innovation and Research reassured voters that this process is a legal requirement and best practice.
Separately, concerns have been raised about potential issues with mail-in voting, including new requirements introduced by the Postal Service and allegations of a flawed computer system that could jeopardize mail-in ballots, which are used by one-third of all voters.