Ahead of the November midterm election, former Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson provided updates on key election programs as she concluded her last week in office.
What were the key election programs?
Secretary Nelson gave updates on programs such as election security assessments, commercial mailboxes and military and overseas ballots.
What did Secretary Nelson say?
“Election integrity is a cornerstone of my work as Secretary of State. These updates are a reflection of just some of the work our office has done to further security in the last three years, and they will continue to help protect Texas elections for years to come."
As Secretary Nelson prepared to leave office, she gave updates on key election programs and how they will uphold election integrity.
The Office of the Texas Secretary of State is reviewing election protocols in each of Texas' 254 counties, funded by an $8 million appropriation from the Texas Legislature. The program will review physical security at storage facilities, polling locations and central counting stations.
Information technology security will also be reviewed.
“The best way to ensure election security is not for counties to act alone,” said Secretary Nelson. “Instead, the state and counties are partnering together to review critical systems, utilize best practices and benefit from high-level expertise.”
Additionally, voter registrations associated with a commercial address are to be investigated and the office found that 8,537 registrations are tied to 1,069 addresses which may be commercial addresses.
Under Texas State law, voter registrations must be associated with the voter's physical residence.
For those stationed overseas, a more secure military ballot option is moving forward to make it easier for deployed service personnel to participate in elections.
“This November, we will be able to offer additional ways for military and overseas voters to securely receive their ballots and exercise just one of the rights they fight to protect," said Secretary Nelson.
Concerns over election integrity have been brewing in recent years and politicians both on the state and federal level are working to address it.
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