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1.2 Million Texas Voters Flagged on Suspense List Ahead Election

8/31/2026

46 3 Full Breakdown

Center

Talarico Leads

Over 1.2 million Texas voters are on the suspense list ahead of the November 3, 2026 election.
Texas Public Opinion Research poll shows Democrat James Talarico leading Republican Ken Paxton by six points.
Suspense-list voters may cast a ballot by completing a Statement of Residence at polling place.
Senator John Cornyn said he will not raise money for Ken Paxton, calling him lazy.

Left

Texas Voters Flagged

Over 1.2 million Texas voters are on the suspense list ahead of the Nov. 3, 2026 election.
State officials say the suspense list does not bar voting and urge registration checks to avoid disenfranchisement.
Secretary of State’s office says the list flags voters suspected of moving from their address.
Moved voters can apply for a ballot in early voting to vote in both counties.

Blindspot

Blindspot

A Texas Public Opinion Research poll of 1,000 likely voters (Aug. 21-24) showed Democrat James Talarico ahead of Republican Ken Paxton by six points, with Talarico 51% to 30% among independents and a +12 net favorability versus Paxton’s –15.
Within this story's sources, this poll and related candidate commentary appear mainly in Center-leaning coverage and receive less attention in Left-leaning coverage.

History

Historical Context

In August 1965 President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act, banning literacy tests and authorizing federal examiners to register voters. Federal examiners registered about 250,000 new Black voters that year, a third directly, showing the act’s impact on preventing disenfranchisement. Today, Texas officials use an oversight list of over 1.2 million voters to flag moves before the Nov 3, 2026 ballot, echoing 1965 safeguards.

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Talarico Leads

Over 1.2 million Texas voters are on the suspense list ahead of the November 3, 2026 election.
Texas Public Opinion Research poll shows Democrat James Talarico leading Republican Ken Paxton by six points.
Suspense-list voters may cast a ballot by completing a Statement of Residence at polling place.
Senator John Cornyn said he will not raise money for Ken Paxton, calling him lazy.

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