1. Texas Secretary of State Elections Division
12/2/2018
2018 Update
Betsy Schonhoff,
Voter Registration Manager
12/2/2018
Texas Secretary of State Elections Division
Texas Secretary of State Elections Division

2. Texas Secretary of State Elections Division
85th Texas Legislature
January 10, 2017 – May 29, 2017
12/2/2018
Texas Secretary of State Elections Division

3. Texas Secretary of State
Jury
H.B (Hernandez): The Voter Registration List used for jury purposes must now exclude the names of persons on the suspense list. Registrars updated TEAM at the beginning of June and will not have to make any further designation to comply. Jury clerks will not see Suspense voters on future reconstituted wheels.
Effective: Immediately (May 29, 2017)
12/2/2018
Texas Secretary of State

4. Texas Secretary of State
Jury
H.B (Bohac): Allows information from the jury questionnaire “other than information provided that is related to Section (8) or (9)” (Felon responses), to be shared with the voter registrar of a county in connection with any matter of voter registration or the administration of elections.” NOTE: the registrar should still never have possession of the questionnaire. The Clerk of the Court should only provide information (other than felon information) to the registrar.
Effective: Immediately (June 12, 2017)
Mass Advisory sent June 13, 2017
12/2/2018
Texas Secretary of State

5. Texas Secretary of State
Voter Registration
H.B (Israel): Corrects the deadline for volunteer deputy registrars to hand deliver registration applications from the 28th day to 5:00 p.m. the day after the registration deadline.
Effective: September 1, 2017
12/2/2018
Texas Secretary of State

6. Texas Secretary of State Elections Division
Voter Registration
H.B (Paul): Requires the voter registrar to forward to the county party chairs contact information for voters who indicated they were willing to serve as poll workers on their voter registration application.
Effective: September 1, 2017.
Also included in H.B (Bohac) – Effective: Immediately (June 12, 2017)
12/2/2018
Texas Secretary of State Elections Division

7. Texas Secretary of State Elections Division
Voter Registration
H.B (Bohac): Provided a mechanism for the Secretary of State to create procedures enabling the voter registrar to collect and report the correct date of birth for each registered voter.
Effective: Immediately (June 12, 2017)
Mass Advisory sent June 27, 2017
12/2/2018
Texas Secretary of State Elections Division

8. Texas Secretary of State
Voter Registration
H.B (Bohac): Requires SOS to institute a program to find and remove in-state duplicate registrations.
Provides for early voting clerks to forward voter information received on ABBMs and FPCAs to the voter registrar to use as a voter update for TDL, SSN or DOB.
Effective: Immediately (June 12, 2017).
12/2/2018
Texas Secretary of State

9. HB4034 – Duplicate Batch Process
Texas Secretary of State Elections Division
12/2/2018
HB4034 – Duplicate Batch Process
Strong Matches run August 19, 2017
Strong Matches & Weak Matches Run June, 2018
12/2/2018
Texas Secretary of State Elections Division
Texas Secretary of State Elections Division

10. Duplicate Batch Process List Maintenance
Texas Secretary of State Elections Division
12/2/2018
Duplicate Batch Process List Maintenance
13.072(b) – Processing Voter Application
Sec – Correction of Voter Registration Records
Sec – Confirmation of Residency
Sec (a)(1) – Immediate Cancellations
Sec – Reinstating Cancelled Voter Records
Sec (NEW) – Elimination of Duplicate Registration Records
12/2/2018
Texas Secretary of State Elections Division
Texas Secretary of State Elections Division

11. Texas Secretary of State Elections Division
12/2/2018
Requires the Secretary of State to periodically compare voter information to determine whether any voters have more than one registration record on file.
Requires the Secretary of State to determine information combinations that constitute a weak match or a strong match in order to:
Produce the least possible impact on Texas voters, and
Fulfill its responsibility to manage voter rolls.
Notices of matches are sent to the county in which the voter is registered to vote.
Counties may merge records determined to be the same voter under Section or send a notice of Address Confirmation under Section
12/2/2018
Texas Secretary of State Elections Division
Texas Secretary of State Elections Division

12. Texas Secretary of State Elections Division
12/2/2018
To paraphrase, our charge is to be a Doctor-Janitor:
First do no harm to the voter, and if it passes that test, then
Clean up the voter rolls. 
12/2/2018
Texas Secretary of State Elections Division
Texas Secretary of State Elections Division

13. Processing Possible Duplicate Matches
Texas Secretary of State Elections Division
12/2/2018
Processing Possible Duplicate Matches
Be cognizant of which matching criteria you are working. (Strong vs. Weak)
Determine which record has the latest (most recent) registration date. (Original Record vs. Duplicate Record)
Look at the Status of each voter record.
Determine the appropriate course of action for that record based on the individual fact pattern.
12/2/2018
Texas Secretary of State Elections Division
Texas Secretary of State Elections Division

14. Texas Secretary of State Elections Division
12/2/2018
QUESTION: I requested a copy of the application from the other county in order to cancel the voter in my county, but they sent me a form indicating the voter is now registered in their county instead.  How can I get a copy of the physical application?
ANSWER: They are not legally required to provide a copy of the physical application in order for you to cancel your voter. Under Section (b), Texas Election Code, the registrar shall deliver written notice of
The applicant's change of residence,
The applicant's name,
Former residence address, and
Former registration number, if known.
As long as the registrar provides you with this information, you can cancel your voter under Section (a)(1), Texas Election Code.
12/2/2018
Texas Secretary of State Elections Division
Texas Secretary of State Elections Division

15. Texas Secretary of State Elections Division
12/2/2018
QUESTION: How should notification be sent?
ANSWER: The law does not specify a method of notification in this portion of code; therefore, the method of notification should comply with Section 1.007(c), Texas Election Code meaning Delivery may be made by:
Personal delivery,
Mail,
Telephonic facsimile machine (fax), or
Any other method of transmission ( notifications or the County Data Website (for transmissions containing confidential information) through TEAM).
12/2/2018
Texas Secretary of State Elections Division
Texas Secretary of State Elections Division

16. Texas Secretary of State Elections Division
12/2/2018
SOS Ongoing Coordination
Deceased Records
DPS –
Alternate Address
Jury Data
Other
Office of Court Administration
Texas Online
12/2/2018
Texas Secretary of State Elections Division
Texas Secretary of State Elections Division

17. Texas Secretary of State Elections Division
12/2/2018
THANK YOU FOR COMING!
12/2/2018
Texas Secretary of State Elections Division
Texas Secretary of State Elections Division