Texas guidance allows non-citizen driver's licenses as voter ID under certain conditions

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The Texas Secretary of State's office has issued new guidance regarding the use of non-citizen driver's licenses for voting. According to an advisory released Tuesday, non-citizen driver's licenses are generally not acceptable as voter identification. However, they can be used if the individual is already a registered voter.

The advisory, issued by the state's elections director Christina Worrell Adkins, explains that while limited-term licenses issued to non-citizens are not typically valid for voting, they may be accepted in specific situations. If an individual is already registered to vote, the guidance states that the license can be used, even if it suggests the person was not a citizen at the time it was issued.

It is possible that an individual holding a limited-term license could have become a naturalized U.S. citizen but failed to update their driver’s license or ID. In such cases, election judges or clerks are instructed to inform the individual that the license indicates they were not a U.S. citizen when it was issued. If the person is on the voter rolls, they should be allowed to vote after presenting the license, but they are encouraged to provide an alternative form of photo ID if available.

If a person with a limited-term license is not registered, they may vote by provisional ballot. In cases where the election judge has concerns about the individual’s citizenship, the matter can be brought to the attention of the county voter registrar.