From The Texas Tribune · Natalia Contreras · · 2m
Texas voter registration system slows response to backlog
Texas election officials struggle with outdated voter registration system as midterm election approaches.
In brief
Texas election officials struggle with outdated voter registration system as midterm election approaches. Texas election officials face delays processing voter registrations due to TEAM system errors, risking voter eligibility verification and ballot tracking. Originally reported by The Texas Tribune.
Texas voter registration backlog
At 6 p.m. a few days after the state sent Randall County election administrator Shannon Lackey a backlog of 3,388 voter registration records, she was still processing them after a full day of work.
TEAM system errors
The state’s voter registration and management system, known as TEAM, is causing delays in processing voter registration records and updates.
Shannon Lackey’s frustration
Lackey said she receives repeated error messages when trying to process the backlog, stating, 'I cannot tell you how many times I get that message, 'an error occurred,' so I’m just clicking. Nothing’s happening.'
“I cannot tell you how many times I get that message, 'an error occurred,' so I’m just clicking. Nothing’s happening.”
County officials’ concerns
Local election officials across Texas have raised concerns about TEAM since the state rolled out a long-awaited upgrade more than a year ago.
Midterm election deadline
State officials discovered the error just weeks before today’s deadline for Texans to register to vote in time for the critical midterm elections.
Verification delays
Election officials report waiting up to 60 days for voter eligibility verification, a key step in processing voter registration applications.
Civix vendor issues
The Texas Association of County Election Officials stated that TEAM problems result from fundamental system architecture failures by the state’s voter registration database vendor, Civix.
State funding promises
Texas promised to pay Civix $17 million, and up to $36 million if the state renews the contract in October 2027.
Election officials’ workarounds
Some election officials have created spreadsheets to track mail ballots, as TEAM does not allow batch updates.
State response
The Texas Secretary of State’s Office said it’s offering counties grants to reimburse costs for processing backlogged applications.
Election officials’ concerns
Election officials worry that the backlog and system errors are eroding voter confidence ahead of the midterm elections.
System rollout timeline
The state rolled out TEAM in July 2025, but election officials say it has not met promised features or functionality.
Public trust concerns
Election officials say the backlog and system errors are causing voter anxiety about the election process.
The essence
Texas election officials face delays processing voter registrations due to TEAM system errors, risking voter eligibility verification and ballot tracking.
