Texas Republicans want voters to provide proof of citizenship. Arizona’s law holds lessons.
A Votebeat analysis shows how such requirements risk disenfranchising key voter groups, including Native Americans and college students. Full Story
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Natalia Contreras covers election administration and voting access for Votebeat in partnership with The Texas Tribune. She has covered a range of topics as a community journalist including local government, public safety, immigration and social issues. Natalia previously reported for the Austin American-Statesman, focusing on impacts of government policies on communities of color. Natalia previously worked at the Indianapolis Star, where she helped launch the first Spanish-language newsletter, and at the Corpus Christi Caller-Times. She was born in Tampico, Tamaulipas in Mexico and grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas. She is based in Corpus Christi.
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![DALLAS, TX - SEPTEMBER 20, 2024: ExpressVote voting machines at a public verification test of the voting system at the Dallas County Elections Department building in Dallas, Texas on Friday, September 20, 2024. The test allows participants to validate the voting process by using ballots containing the same races and proportions as the upcoming elections in November. CREDIT: Desiree Rios for The Texas Tribune]()
Credit: Desiree Rios for The Texas Tribune -
Bill aimed at increasing transparency could sow chaos for election officials, experts say
Under state Sen. Paul Bettencourt’s bill, some individuals could submit requests for explanations of ‘election irregularities’ and potentially bring them to the Texas Secretary of State. Full Story
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![State Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, on the Senate floor on Sept. 14, 2023.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas ballot secrecy issue draws attention in Legislature, courts
One bill has been filed so far, while a pair of lawsuits focus attention on the issue. Full Story
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![Poll workers return voting equipment to central county station workers at the Brazos Center in Bryan on November 5, 2024.]()
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Brazos County election officials feel the strain of unrelenting scrutiny from right-wing skeptics
Voting went well in the presidential election, but Trudy Hancock and her staff are still fielding questions. And the answers don’t seem to matter. Full Story
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![BRYAN, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 5: Central county station workers aggregate election results at the Brazos Center in Bryan, Texas on November 5, 2024. Photo by Montinique Monroe for Votebeat]()
Credit: Montinique Monroe for Votebeat -
Following a year of partisan fights, Election Day runs smoothly across Texas
A mostly quiet Election Day in Texas came after a series of pitched partisan battles over how elections should be conducted. Full Story
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![People wait in line to vote at the Brazos County Election Administrator Office on Election Day in Bryan on Nov. 5, 2024.]()
Credit: Montinique Monroe for Votebeat -
When will Texas election results come in? Here’s how the process unfolds.
By state law, Election Day totals must be submitted to the state within 24 hours after polls close. Meeting that deadline requires careful but quick work. Full Story
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![Voters cast their ballots at the Tarrant County College Southeast Campus polling location in Arlington on primary election day, March 5, 2024.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
As Texas refuses online voter registration, paper applications get lost
Some people who filled out forms find out too late that they never made it onto the rolls. State lawmakers have resisted efforts to expand online options. Full Story
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![Hannah Murry, 21, on the campus of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, where she is a student. (Gabriel Cárdenas for Votebeat)]()
Credit: Gabriel Cárdenas for Votebeat -
Election clerk allegedly assaulted during early voting in San Antonio
The suspect was arrested for assaulting the elderly. The Bexar County sheriff said “nothing” is worth going to jail for. Full Story
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![People wait to vote at the Bexar County Elections Department on Nov. 3, 2020.]()
Credit: Robin Jerstad for The Texas Tribune -
Texas lawmakers signal push to require proof of citizenship from voters
Gov. Greg Abbott gave an inflated number of noncitizens removed from the state’s voter rolls, officials acknowledged, confirming findings by ProPublica, The Texas Tribune, and Votebeat. Full Story
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![Ken Cuccinelli, a former acting director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and former acting deputy secretary of DHS, speaks at a state Senate hearing at the Texas Capitol on Oct. 16, 2024.]()
Credit: Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribune -
Watch: Texas lawmakers discuss noncitizens on the voter rolls
Here’s what you need to know after a ProPublica, The Texas Tribune and Votebeat investigation found that Gov. Greg Abbott likely inflated the number of noncitizens on voter rolls. Full Story
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![Voting signs direct voters outside of the Rolling Fork Castle Club during Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023 in Houston. The castle was built in the late 1970s and has served as a voting location for almost forty years.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune