Amid growing concerns over election integrity, Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson has updated the rules for voter identification, particularly regarding the use of non-citizen driver’s licenses. The new guidelines, issued on Friday, come after an earlier memo sparked an outcry from lawmakers who feared the policy could open the door for non-citizens to vote.
The initial memo, released earlier this week, allowed individuals with limited-term driver’s licenses—typically issued to non-citizens—to use them as voter identification if they were on the voter rolls. This caused alarm, prompting objections from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and members of Congress.
In the updated memo, Nelson clarified that voters presenting a non-citizen license must also provide proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a naturalization certificate, before casting a regular ballot. “Election workers are obligated to ensure only eligible citizens can vote,” Nelson wrote.
The earlier guidance was based on the possibility that some individuals could have become naturalized citizens without updating their driver’s licenses. However, the revised memo requires that voters present additional documentation to confirm their citizenship status. If they cannot provide this proof, they will have to vote provisionally.
This shift aims to prevent any potential misuse of non-citizen licenses while still allowing naturalized citizens the opportunity to vote. The controversy highlights the ongoing debate in Texas over election integrity and the use of voter identification.
With the next election cycle approaching, these updated rules underscore the importance of safeguarding the electoral process while ensuring that all eligible voters can cast their ballots.
