In response to growing concerns over the potential use of non-citizen driver’s licenses as voter identification, Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson issued new election guidance on Friday. The update followed a wave of criticism over an earlier memo, which led to fears that non-citizens might be allowed to vote.
Earlier in the week, Nelson’s office released guidance stating that limited-term driver’s licenses, often issued to non-citizens, could be used as voter identification if the individual was already registered. This raised concerns from lawmakers, including Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, prompting Nelson to amend the guidance.
The revised memo now requires individuals presenting a non-citizen license to provide proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a naturalization certificate, before casting a regular ballot. The memo emphasized the need for election workers to comply with state laws preventing illegal voting.
“If an individual attempts to vote by presenting a limited-term driver’s license, election workers must ensure that they provide further proof of citizenship,” Nelson stated. Individuals who cannot provide such documentation will be allowed to vote provisionally, pending further investigation.
The initial memo had caused confusion by suggesting that voters with non-citizen licenses could still vote if they were on the voter rolls. Nelson explained that some voters might have become naturalized citizens after receiving their temporary licenses but failed to update their ID status.
The new guidance aims to prevent any potential misuse of non-citizen IDs and ensure only eligible voters cast ballots. The debate over voter ID laws remains a contentious issue in Texas, with election integrity a central focus heading into the next election cycle.
