Mail-in ballot applications for the March 1 primary are being rejected by almost 40% — largely because of a missing ID number, which is now required after a new voting bill passed the Legislature last year.
The Houston Chronicle reported that nearly four in 10 Harris County mail ballot applications had been rejected as of last week. Early voting began Feb. 14, and the deadline for mail ballot requests is Feb. 18.
Other counties across Texas also reported high rejection rates, including Travis, Williamson, Hays and Bastrop counties, the Austin American-Statesman reported. Those seeking to vote by mail must include a driver’s license number, a state ID number, or in some cases the last four digits of their Social Security number. If what the applicant provides doesn’t match the applicant’s individual voter registration information, the application must be rejected.
