Why You Shouldn't Get Voter Information from Spam Emails

The ongoing confusion over Texas primaries is helping spread misinformation over who’s registered to vote, and who isn’t.

The Austin-American Statesman notes county election administrators have been deluged with calls from citizens asking whether they’re still registered to vote. And the culprit appears to be an incorrect, indiscriminately forwarded email.

The Statesman says:

The emails claim that voter registration certificates expired at the end of last year and that residents hoping to have a say in the election need to get registered quickly.

“Probably just incompetence, to allow this change without public notification,” one email says. “Until this year voter registration cards were automatically mailed to arrive before expiration, but that did NOT happen this year. That means you will have to go in and apply for a new one.”

Of course, there’s no such requirement. The website of the Travis County Tax Assessor/Collector, which handles voter registration in Austin, notes this. Referring to the primary election delay, the site states “The mailing of voter registration certificates has been delayed due to redistricting litigation. You will automatically be mailed a new certificate once the new maps are determined.” 

If you do need to update your voter information however, you can do so online.