Bexar County elections officials say there have been issues with some voter registration cards that have gone out. It won’t affect you so long as you’re registered.
SAN ANTONIO — More than 100,000 registered Bexar County voters still don’t have their voter registration cards with the 2026 Texas Primary runoffs looming.
The message from Bexar County’s elections: Don’t panic. So long as you’re registered, it shouldn’t matter at the polls.
“Something the voters need to realize is if they don’t have their voter registration card, it doesn’t mean they’re not registered to vote,” Elections Administrator Michele Carew said. “We had a delay in our voter registration cards being sent out with the change over to the secretary of state’s system and in general with redistricting—it was kind of like the perfect storm.”
Carew said the required transition over to the Secretary of State’s new Texas Elections Administratin Management System – or TEAMS – has continued to create hiccups for her office. Last year, it resulted in an effort to clear a massive backlog just in time for the November election.
Now, it’s creating some issues with certain voters’ registration cards. If they have a long or hyphenate last name, or live on a street with a long name, for instance, those names are being cut off.
“We’re dealing with about 130,000 registered voters did not receive their cards,” Carew told KENS 5 on Monday, adding there was no indication the state would be able to help in time for the runoffs.
She reminded the public that the best way to check and be certain if you’re registered is either online here or by calling the Bexar County Elections Office at 210-335-2011.
She also emphasizes that voters know the registration card is just one of several acceptable forms of ID you’ll need to show at the polls. You can also bring a Texas driver license, a DPS-issued personal identification card, a Texas handgun license, U.S. military ID with your photo, U.S. citizenship certificate with your photo or a U.S. passport.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, when major nominees like the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate and the Democratic nominee for Bexar County district attorney will be decided ahead of the General Election this fall.
The elections office said about twice as many midterm primary runoff voters made it to the polls in 2022 compared to 2018; Carew isn’t ruling out that the numbers could rise again this year. She recommended that voters make a two-part plan.
“Review your ballot. Know where you’re going to vote,” she said. “If you get there at 7 (p.m.), know that you will get the chance to vote. So just stay in line until you get through.”