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Texas Policy Research submitted the following written testimony to all members of the Texas House Committee on Elections ahead of its interim hearing.
- Committee: House Committee on Elections
- Hearing Date: May 14, 2026
- Context: 89th Legislature, Interim
- Subject: Citizenship and Voting
- Position: Informational
- Texas Liberty Compact: Make Government Transparent
- Submitted By: Jeramy Kitchen
- Entity: Texas Policy Research Action (TPRA)
The text below reproduces the testimony as submitted to the committee.
The submitted document linked above is the authoritative version.
Chairman Shaheen and Members of the Committee,
Thank you for the opportunity to provide testimony regarding the integrity of Texas elections and the importance of ensuring that only United States citizens are registered to vote and participate in our electoral process. Citizenship verification in voting is not a partisan issue. It is a matter of maintaining public trust in elections and preserving the legitimacy of representative government. Participation in elections carries significant civic responsibility, and Texas has a clear and compelling interest in ensuring that only those legally eligible under federal and state law are permitted to cast ballots in its elections.
Texas has experienced substantial population growth and increasing mobility between states and countries over the last several decades. As our state grows, so does the complexity of maintaining accurate voter rolls. That reality makes regular voter-roll maintenance, interagency coordination, and citizenship verification procedures increasingly important. Even isolated cases of noncitizen registration can undermine public confidence in the electoral process and contribute to broader skepticism about election integrity. Texas should continue exploring ways to improve data sharing between agencies, identify outdated or inaccurate voter registrations, and ensure counties have clear guidance and resources to maintain clean voter rolls. The state should also examine whether current systems for identifying potential noncitizen registrations are functioning effectively and consistently across jurisdictions.
At the same time, efforts to strengthen election integrity should be implemented carefully, transparently, and consistently. Safeguards should be designed to minimize administrative errors while ensuring the law is faithfully enforced. Public confidence depends not only on secure elections, but also on clear and consistent administration of election law.
The committee should also continue reviewing election transparency and ballot privacy policies in a way that promotes accountability without compromising ballot secrecy. Texans deserve confidence that elections are conducted honestly, that records are maintained appropriately, and that election outcomes accurately reflect the lawful electorate. Confidence in elections is foundational to political stability and public trust in government institutions. Regardless of political affiliation, Texans benefit from an election system that is secure, transparent, and governed by the rule of law. Ensuring that only U.S. citizens are able to register and vote is a basic but essential component of maintaining that trust.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sources
- Texas using DPS data to confirm citizenship of voters flagged by feds, The Texas Tribune / Votebeat, May 2026
- Texas officials confirm that some registered voters flagged as potential noncitizens by SAVE had already provided proof of citizenship, Votebeat, July 2026
- Texas counties begin looking into 'potential noncitizens' on voter rolls, Votebeat, October 2025
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