▲ U.S. citizens casting early ballots ahead of next month's midterm elections
A massive delay in voter registration has occurred in Texas, U.S., ahead of next month's elections, resulting in the state government facing a lawsuit.
According to local U.S. daily newspapers The Washington Post and The Dallas Morning News on the 15th (local time), it was found that at least 593,000 voter registration applications have been delayed in Texas over the past year.
The massive delays came to light after voter registration information applied for online by Texas residents was not reflected on the voter rolls in a timely manner.
Previously, following a lawsuit with civic groups demanding expanded opportunities for voter registration, the Texas state government agreed in 2021 to establish a procedure allowing residents to apply for voter registration simultaneously when renewing their driver's licenses online or changing their addresses.
Since then, residents have been able to conveniently register to vote while renewing their driver's licenses, but a problem arose where the registration information was not properly reflected on the voter lists.
Texas authorities maintain that the issue was caused by a technical programming error and that they have now processed all of the delayed registrations.
Voter advocacy groups have filed a lawsuit against the state government to investigate the circumstances behind the registration delays and ensure that legal procedures are followed in the future.
Groups including the League of Women Voters of Texas stated in the lawsuit, "We are concerned that without court-ordered measures, the registration delays that have already harmed voters will continue in future elections."
(Photo: Getty Images)
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