22,000 taken off Hidalgo County voter roll

Hidalgo County Elections Department

101 S. 10th Ave.

Edinburg, TX 78539

(956) 784-8683 or (888) 653-8683

Not sure if you're registered? Visit www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/

EDINBURG — More than 22,000 Hidalgo County voters had their registrations cancelled last year because the elections department was unable to verify their addresses.

Now, local leaders are encouraging them to re-register by April 9 if they wish to cast ballots in the upcoming spring elections.

"We want to be proactive to find a way to let them know they have been cancelled," said Hidalgo County Elections Administrator Yvonne Ramón.

Those affected by the cancellations are voters who have spent two to four years on the voter "suspense list."

The county sends out new voter registration cards every two years. Voters got put on the list when voter registration cards sent out by the county were returned as undeliverable. Typically, that indicates the voter has moved to a new address.

The voters were purged from the voter roll Nov. 30 after spending two years on the list, per state law, Ramón said.

A total of 22,634 of the county's 258,634 registered voters were purged from the voter roll.

Most of those purged from the list are people who didn't vote in November. But people who did vote - and failed to complete a statement of residence after changing homes - could also be affected.

As many as 21 Hidalgo County municipalities - including cities, school districts and irrigation districts - have elections scheduled for May 9. Early voting begins April 27.

In McAllen, Mayor Richard Cortez, as well as City Commissioners Scott Crane, Marcus Barrera and Hilda Salinas are up for re-election.

"Here comes some major elections in May," Ramón said. "I guarantee you ... they'll say, ‘I was registered. You didn't notify me.' But how can we?"

Many voters don't include their phone numbers on their registration cards, and mail from the county wouldn't work since the voters never received their registration cards in the first place.

"If you have not received your card and you registered, call us," Ramón said. "It's the only way we know."

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Ryan Holeywell covers McAllen, PSJA, the Mid-Valley and general assignments for The Monitor. He can be reached at (956) 683-4446.