How to avoid a rejected ballot application in Tarrant County

Nearly 53% of applications submitted to Tarrant County for mail-in ballots were denied, most because of missing driver’s license numbers and Social Security number digits, Elections Administrator Heider Garcia told county commissioners at their meeting Tuesday.

The trouble comes after that a bill that went into effect in December requires that applications include either the applicant’s driver’s license number, the last four digits of their social security number, or a statement that the applicant does not have a number. The numbers must match the numbers a person used to register to vote, Garcia said.

Tarrant County residents aren’t the only ones affected by the new rules. The law, which opponents say restricts access to polling stations and strips minority, disabled and elderly voters the right to vote, has produced a result Hundreds of rejections across the state. In Travis County a few weeks ago, 50% of voter motions were rejected, With harris and Bexar counties also reporting problems with an unusually high number of rejections.

The solution to making sure your application isn’t denied: Provide both your driver’s license and the last four digits of your Social Security number when registering to vote or applying for a ballot, Garcia advised.

He said those who have already registered should update their registration with both numbers.

“As long as one of them fits, it’s a try,” Garcia said.

Those whose applications were denied will receive a letter in the mail along with a new form to try again.

The deadline for applying for a postal vote is February 18.