Amid rising concerns over the use of non-citizen driver’s licenses as voter ID, Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson has issued new guidelines to clarify voter identification requirements. The updated guidance, released Friday, follows an earlier memo that sparked an outcry from lawmakers and election officials.
The original memo, released earlier this week, allowed individuals with limited-term driver’s licenses — issued to non-citizens — to use those licenses if they were already registered to vote. This led to objections from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who warned of the potential for illegal voting.
Nelson’s revised guidance now mandates that voters presenting a non-citizen license must also provide proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a naturalization certificate, before they can cast a regular ballot. “Election workers are required to verify citizenship to prevent illegal voting,” Nelson wrote in the memo.
Previously, the memo had acknowledged that some voters might have become naturalized citizens without updating their driver’s licenses, but the new rules require these voters to provide additional proof of citizenship. If they cannot, they will be required to vote provisionally until their status is confirmed.
This change is part of a broader effort to ensure election integrity in Texas as the state prepares for upcoming elections. The revised guidance aims to prevent the misuse of non-citizen licenses while still allowing eligible voters to participate in the democratic process.
