In response to growing concerns about election integrity, Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson has issued new guidance on the use of non-citizen driver’s licenses as voter identification. The updated memo, released on Friday, aims to address concerns raised by lawmakers and voters who feared that non-citizens could be allowed to vote under the previous rules.
Earlier in the week, Nelson’s office had released a memo that permitted individuals with limited-term driver’s licenses — typically issued to non-citizens — to use those licenses for voter identification if they were already registered to vote. This led to a backlash from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and others.
The new guidance clarifies that any voter presenting a non-citizen driver’s license must provide additional proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a naturalization certificate, before they can cast a regular ballot. “We must ensure that only U.S. citizens are allowed to vote in our elections,” Nelson wrote in the revised memo.
Previously, the guidance allowed some flexibility, acknowledging that individuals could have become naturalized citizens without updating their driver’s licenses. However, under the new rules, election workers must request further documentation from voters who present non-citizen licenses. If the voter cannot provide proof of citizenship, they will be required to vote provisionally.
This change comes as Texas prepares for a series of important elections, and election integrity is a top concern for both state officials and voters. The updated guidance aims to prevent any misuse of non-citizen licenses while ensuring that all eligible voters have the opportunity to participate.
