The article reports on the case of Mary Howard-Elley, a U.S. citizen who faced complications with her voter registration in Texas. Howard-Elley, a retired TSA agent, supports former President Donald Trump’s stance on immigration and is concerned about potential voter fraud involving noncitizens, though these claims are unfounded.
Governor Greg Abbott of Texas had previously announced that thousands of noncitizens had been removed from the state’s voter rolls, some of whom had allegedly voted. Howard-Elley was surprised to discover she was mistakenly included in this group. The Montgomery County elections office sent her a letter stating she had been flagged as a noncitizen due to her response to a jury summons, which she disputes. Howard-Elley insists she requested exemption from jury duty because of her guardianship duties, not because she was not a citizen.
Despite requesting copies of her birth certificate and believing the matter had been settled, Howard-Elley’s registration was not reinstated. She was one of ten U.S. citizens identified by ProPublica, The Texas Tribune, and Votebeat as being erroneously removed from the voter rolls. These removals largely resulted from human error and fueled Republican claims of potential noncitizen voter fraud, though such cases are rare.
Following intervention by the news organizations and clarification from the secretary of state’s office, Howard-Elley was reinstated. The office emphasized that Texas law allows for immediate reinstatement of voters who prove their citizenship. Howard-Elley’s registration took effect again after discussions between Montgomery County officials and state authorities.
Montgomery County elections administrator Suzie Harvey acknowledged the oversight and reinstated Howard-Elley’s registration. The case highlights challenges in voting systems and the variability in how laws and guidelines are applied across different counties.
Ultimately, Howard-Elley was relieved to have her voting rights restored and emphasized the need for accountability to prevent similar issues for other citizens. Despite the controversy, she remains a strong supporter of Trump and plans to vote for him.