Voter Registration Cards Delayed

A problem with the State’s voter registration management system is causing delays with printing voter registration cards in several places around Texas, including Fayette County.

Fayette County Elections Administrator Donna Macik said the recent congressional redistricting that legislators undertook last year put a strain on the voter registration system.

Voters don’t need the cards to cast a ballot. Polling places accept seven forms of photo ID such as a Texas ID or driver license (more on the others below). However, voter registration cards help identify which congressional or legislative district the voter belongs to. And they can be used as a supporting form of ID for people who don’t have one of the acceptable forms of photo ID.

The Texas Secretary of State manages the state’s voter registration system. When the Record spoke to Macik last Friday, she said officials at the Secretary of State’s Office told her they hope to resolve the problem in a week or two. However, early voting in the March 3 primary begins on Feb. 17.

In case the voter registration cards haven’t been mailed by then, Macik said, her office will accept last year’s voter registration card.

According to state law, the following seven forms of photo ID are acceptable for voting in person:

• a driver license issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS),

• a Texas election identification certificate issued by DPS,

• a Texas personal ID issued by DPS,

• a Texas handgun license issued by DPS,

• a United States Military ID Card containing your photograph, • a United States Citizenship Certificate containing your photograph, • or a U.S. Passport (book or card).

If you do not possess one of these photo IDs, you can fill out a declaration at the polls describing a reasonable impediment to obtaining it, and show a copy or original of one of the following supporting forms of ID:

• A government document that shows your name and an address, including your voter registration certificate;

• Current utility bill;

• Bank statement;

• Government check;

• Paycheck; or

• (a) A certified domestic (from a U.S. state or territory) birth certificate or (b) a document confirming birth admissible in a court of law which establishes your identity (which may include a foreign birth document).

There are some exceptions related to disabilities and certain conditions involving expired forms of ID. See votetexas. gov for more information.