A new advisory from the Texas Secretary of State’s office directs election workers to accept driver licenses issued to noncitizens as voter identification, even though state-issued training materials indicate they should not be accepted.
The advisory issued Tuesday afternoon also fails to mention that naturalization certificates may be used as voter ID.
The Texas Department of Public Safety does issue drivers licenses and personal identification cards to lawfully present noncitizens, but the IDs are clearly marked “Temporary Visitor” or “Limited-Term” and expire after one year or when the person’s period of lawful presence expires.
Christina Adkins, director of elections in the Texas Secretary of State’s office, issued the Election Advisory. She first stated that Texans should not use this type of ID to participate in elections.
It is possible for a noncitizen who was previously issued a limited-term driver’s license or ID card to subsequently become a naturalized citizen and then fail to obtain an updated, permanent driver’s license or ID card. But when an individual presents a limited-term driver’s license or ID card to vote, the only thing that can be known for certain is that at some time—whether in the past or the present—the individual was a noncitizen who was not eligible to vote.
“Accordingly, our office has consistently made it clear that Texans should not use this type of license to participate in elections, even if it otherwise constitutes a valid form of ID,” Adkins advises in the memo.
The advisory then directs poll workers to offer a regular ballot to people on the voter rolls who present a noncitizen ID:
The election judge or clerk should inform the individual that the identification presented suggests that the individual is not a United States citizen. The election judge or clerk should then inform the individual as to the eligibility requirements to vote in the State of Texas.
“If the individual does not have further questions or concerns and wishes to proceed to vote, the individual should be offered a regular ballot,” the advisory continues.
