https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/natalia-contreras-votebeat-and-the-texas-tribune/The latest news by Natalia Contreras.enFri, 10 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/10/10/dallas-county-republicans-hand-counting-ballots-march-2026-primary/The move could require a shift away from countywide polling sites and delay primary election results.By Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneFri, 10 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/10/10/dallas-county-republicans-hand-counting-ballots-march-2026-primary/Republican Primary ballot boxes wait to be hand counted by poll workers in Fredericksburg on March 5, 2024.Republican Primary ballot boxes wait to be hand counted by poll workers in Fredericksburg on March 5, 2024. Maria Crane/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/10/09/texas-republican-lawsuit-ken-paxton-close-primaries/Secretary of State Jane Nelson said in a filing that Paxton’s office gave her less than an hour’s warning that they’d be siding against her agency in court.By Eleanor Klibanoff, The Texas Tribune, and Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneThu, 09 Oct 2025 18:40:22 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/10/09/texas-republican-lawsuit-ken-paxton-close-primaries/Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton gets up to shake the hand of Tarrant County GOP Chairman Bo French during a rally at the Tarrant County Republican Party Headquarters in Fort Worth on Jan. 6, 2025. Standing behind Paxton, hands together, is Abraham George, chairman of the Republican Party of Texas.Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton gets up to shake the hand of Tarrant County GOP Chairman Bo French during a rally at the Tarrant County Republican Party Headquarters in Fort Worth on Jan. 6, 2025. Standing behind Paxton, hands together, is Abraham George, chairman of the Republican Party of Texas.Emil T. Lippe for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/25/texas-voter-registration-system-TEAM-county-election-officials/State officials push back on complaints about software problems. Meanwhile, unprocessed applications are piling up.By Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneThu, 25 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/25/texas-voter-registration-system-TEAM-county-election-officials/Tens of thousands of Texans are waiting in suspense for their voter registration applications to go through, a process that normally takes a few days or weeks. The deadline to register to vote in November’s constitutional amendment election is Oct 6.Lily Trieu, interim executive director of Asian Texans for Justice (ATJ), who produced a report researching Asian voters, holds a voter registration card in her home in Austin on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. Asian communities are growing rapidly in Texas, but still feel left out of the political process.May-Ying Lam for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/02/trump-election-executive-order-texas-voting-machines/Collin, Bastrop and Williamson counties say they’re proactively changing their voting procedures and equipment following a federal attempt to limit barcodes or QR codes on paper ballots.By Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneTue, 02 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/02/trump-election-executive-order-texas-voting-machines/Voters head to the polls on the last day of early voting in Collin County on Oct. 30, 2020.Voters head to the polls on the last day of early voting in Collin County on Oct. 30, 2020.Amna Ijaz/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/25/abbott-texas-same-day-voter-registration-legislature-special-session/Legislation pushed by Gov. Greg Abbott would bar voters at the polls from immediately casting a ballot based on a last-minute update to their address.By Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneMon, 25 Aug 2025 18:44:10 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/25/abbott-texas-same-day-voter-registration-legislature-special-session/Gov. Greg Abbott addresses law enforcement officials during a Southwestern Border Sheriff’s Coalition event in Austin on April 29, 2025.Gov. Greg Abbott addresses law enforcement officials during a Southwestern Border Sheriff’s Coalition event in Austin on April 29, 2025.Kaylee Greenlee for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/19/texas-redistricting-houston-18th-congressional-district/The congressional seat in Texas’ 18th District, a hub of Black political power, has been vacant for months. Redistricting could further disrupt representation for its voters.By Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneTue, 19 Aug 2025 13:48:41 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/19/texas-redistricting-houston-18th-congressional-district/Sylvester Turner, at a rally in 2024, represented Texas' 18th Congressional District until his death. The seat has been vacant since then. A redistricting effort could provide even more turnover in representation.Former state Rep., Houston Mayor and U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner addresses the crowd gathered on steps of Houston’s City Hall in support of a 10,000 Black Men rally on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. Turner, who died in March, represented Houston's Congressional District 18.Douglas Sweet Jr. for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/14/justice-department-letter-request-voter-roll-christina-adkins-electio/For now, the state is holding off on fulfilling the request while it switches to a new voter registration management system.By Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneThu, 14 Aug 2025 10:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/14/justice-department-letter-request-voter-roll-christina-adkins-electio/The line wraps around the sidewalk at the Cinco Ranch Branch Library on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, in Fort Bend County.The line wraps around the sidewalk at the Cinco Ranch Branch Library on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, in Ft Bend County.Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/08/dallas-county-election-administrator-heider-garcia-resigns/The election official, who previously worked in Tarrant County, won praise for pushing back on misinformation.By Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneFri, 08 Aug 2025 16:46:57 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/08/dallas-county-election-administrator-heider-garcia-resigns/Heider Garcia is leaving his post as Dallas County's election administrator. He was previously celebrated for his work in Tarrant County.Tarrant County Elections Administrator Heider Garcia talks with ballot box workers inside the Tarrant County's central count station on election night. on May 6, 2023.Azul Sordo for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/08/texas-redistricting-2026-election-primary/New maps would mean months of work for election officials, and key deadlines are approaching.By Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneFri, 08 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/08/texas-redistricting-2026-election-primary/Election Day voters line up to cast their ballots at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Austin on Nov. 8, 2022.Voters line up to cast their ballots at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Austin on Election Day, Nov. 8, 2022.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/06/votec-corp-texas-voter-registration-software-vendor/Votec, maker of voter registration management software used in Texas’ largest counties, has thrown election officials for a loop with mixed messages about its financial viability.By Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneWed, 06 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/06/votec-corp-texas-voter-registration-software-vendor/A Texan holds a voter registration card in their home in Austin on Oct. 11, 2022.Lily Trieu, interim executive director of Asian Texans for Justice (ATJ), who produced a report researching Asian voters, holds a voter registration card in her home in Austin on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. Asian communities are growing rapidly in Texas, but still feel left out of the political process.May-Ying Lam for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/22/texas-secretary-of-state-checks-save-database-voter-citizenship/Texas officials praise the revamped immigration database, but some critics are raising concerns about data privacy and accuracy.By Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneTue, 22 Jul 2025 14:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/22/texas-secretary-of-state-checks-save-database-voter-citizenship/A poll pad with an ID check-in is active before Gillespie County residents check in for a mock election hosted on Feb. 6, 2024. The poll pad is used for voter check in and verification for county and precinct.A poll pad with an ID check-in is active before Gillespie Co. residents check in for a mock election hosted on Feb. 6, 2024. The poll pad is used for voter check in and verification for county and precinct.Maria Crane/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/15/texas-noncitizen-voter-investigation-ken-paxton/Most of those voters are in Harris County, home to Houston. Noncitizen voting is illegal and documented instances are rare.By Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneTue, 15 Jul 2025 14:23:21 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/15/texas-noncitizen-voter-investigation-ken-paxton/Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton fields questions at the Frisco Gun Club during a press conference on May 1, 2024.Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton fields questions at the Frisco Gun Club during a press conference announcing his intent to sue the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives on May 1, 2024. This comes after the Justice Department announced a new rule requiring all gun sellers to conduct federal background checks on buyers, closing what is known as the “gun show loophole”.Azul Sordo for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/20/texas-election-voting-bills-legislature-2025/Successful measures include a new early-voting schedule, revised mail-voting procedures and limits on curbside voting.By Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneFri, 20 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/20/texas-election-voting-bills-legislature-2025/Ector County residents cast their vote at a polling location inside a Market Street grocery store in Odessa shortly before polls close on Election Day on Nov. 5, 2024.Ector County residents cast their vote at a polling location inside a Market Street grocery store in Odessa shortly before polls close on Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.Eli Hartman for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/11/texas-congress-midcycle-redistricting-trump-republicans/The plan would shift voters from safely red districts into blue ones. Members of the state’s Republican delegation aren’t sold on the idea.By Owen Dahlkamp, The Texas Tribune, and Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneWed, 11 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/11/texas-congress-midcycle-redistricting-trump-republicans/Proposed drafts of Texas' redrawn congressional districts outside the Senate chamber in the Texas Capitol in Austin on Sept. 30, 2021.The newest drafts of the statewide congressional districts in Texas outside the Senate Chamber in the Texas Capitol in Austin on Sept. 30 2021.Dimitri Staszewski for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/06/texas-early-voting-weekends-changes/A bill headed for Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk may not go into effect until 2027. Election administrators say the changes could create staffing challenges.By Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneFri, 06 Jun 2025 04:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/06/texas-early-voting-weekends-changes/A line of voters wraps around the Cinco Ranch Branch Library on Oct. 21, 2024, in Fort Bend County.The line wraps around the sidewalk at the Cinco Ranch Branch Library on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, in Ft Bend County.Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/05/texas-secretary-state-noncitizen-voters-investigation/The 33 potential voting violations are a tiny fraction of the roughly 11 million who cast ballots in the November 2024 election.By Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneThu, 05 Jun 2025 14:47:27 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/05/texas-secretary-state-noncitizen-voters-investigation/A sign warns non-citizens against voting outside of a polling location in Canyon Lake on Nov. 05, 2024.A sign warns non-citizens against voting outside of a polling location in Canyon Lake on Nov. 05, 2024.Kaylee Greenlee for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/01/texas-attorney-general-legislature-election-crimes/Ken Paxton sought more power for his office to take up election cases. But lawmakers haven’t agreed on a measure that would give it to him.By Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneSun, 01 Jun 2025 08:23:44 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/01/texas-attorney-general-legislature-election-crimes/Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks to the media on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, during a press conference following arguments in the case “Free Speech Coalition, Inc., et al. v. Ken Paxton, Attorney General of Texas,” at the Supreme Court of the United States in Washington, D.C.Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks to the media on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, during a press conference following arguments in the case “Free Speech Coalition, Inc., et al. v. Ken Paxton, Attorney General of Texas,” at the Supreme Court of the United States in Washington, D.C.Luke Johnson for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/28/texas-mail-voting-decline-senate-bill-1-election-law-id-requirement/New research from the Brennan Center for Justice suggests that 2021 ID requirements in a recent overhaul of Texas election laws could explain some of the drop in mail voting.By Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneWed, 28 May 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/28/texas-mail-voting-decline-senate-bill-1-election-law-id-requirement/Then-interim Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins shows what a mail-in ballot envelope looks like at election headquarters inside NRG Arena on Oct. 5, 2020.Then-interim Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins shows what a mail-in ballot envelope looks like at election headquarters inside NRG Arena on Oct. 5, 2020.Pu Ying Huang for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/28/texas-proof-citizenship-vote-senate-bill-16/Senate Bill 16 is imperiled after missing a deadline in the House. It was among the most sweeping proof-of-citizenship proposals in the U.S. and would have applied retroactively to all voters.By Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneWed, 28 May 2025 00:15:09 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/28/texas-proof-citizenship-vote-senate-bill-16/The Texas Capitol between the Texas Department of Transportation and the Secretary of State buildings in Austin on June 12, 2023.The Texas Capitol between the Texas Department of Transportation and the Secretary of State buildings in Austin on June 12, 2023.Joe Timmerman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/15/texas-online-voter-registration-bill/Texas is one of eight states without universal online voter registration. A lawmaker pushing for it says he’ll continue the fight.By Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneThu, 15 May 2025 17:01:17 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/15/texas-online-voter-registration-bill/An online voter registration application from the Texas Secretary of State’s office, which must be printed and sent by mail. Only people who already have a Texas driver’s license and are engaging in an online transaction with the Department of Public Safety can fully register online.Online voter registration application from the Texas Secretary of State. Voters in Texas cannot register online — nce filled out, the application must be printed, signed, and sent by mail.John Jordan/The Texas Tribune