Upwards of 1.2 million voters in Texas are on a little-known voter list that may complicate casting a ballot in the Nov. 3 general election.
Those Texans, including about 300,000 in the Houston area, are on the state's suspense list, which means state officials have not been able to confirm the voter's current address. Approximately 6.5% of all voters statewide were on the list as of March, when data was most recently shared.
On Saturday, the Texas Secretary of State's office released a series of messages online attempting to reassure residents that the list would not prevent them from voting in the upcoming election, which features closely contested races for both governor and United States senator.
"On the suspense list? Don't panic," the agency wrote. "You can still vote."
Being on the suspense list will not stop residents from voting in November, but it may require filling out a couple of extra forms on or before Election Day. Here's what to know.
In Texas, the suspense list indicates voters whose residential address hasn't been verified by election officials.
Every two years, the state mails all voters orange and white voter registration cards to the address it has on file. If residents have not yet received theirs, the state says it could be because they moved without updating their address, or that there is another problem with registration.
Residents are placed on the suspense list when certain pieces of official mail - including voter registration cards, a jury summons, or other official election mail - are returned as non-deliverable.
Across the Houston region, hundreds of thousands of voters are on the suspense list, including about 198,000 in Harris County, 48,000 in Montgomery County, 43,000 in Fort Bend County and 12,000 in Brazoria County.
Voters can check whether they are on the suspense list by using either their county voter website or the state's online portal. After putting in individual voter information, voters can see their status and will be listed as "suspense" if they are on the list.
Getting off the list depends on why you put on it. The first step is to check whether your listed address on the voter registration website matches your current address.
CHECK HERE: Texas voter registration lookup
If you moved within your county and haven't updated your voter information to reflect the new address, you can do that by the Oct. 5 registration deadline to be removed from the suspense list. To update your information, you will need a current form of Texas ID, your Social Security number and your Voter Unique Identifier, or VUID, number, which can be found on your registration card.
If you have moved to a new county, you may have to fill out a new registration form by the Oct. 5 deadline.
If you have not moved and your information listed online is correct, you should contact your county voter registrar to find out why you are on the suspense list.
Voters who are on the suspense list for two consecutive federal election cycles, or four years, can be removed from the voter rolls, according to the Texas SOS.
The short answer is likely yes, but it may be more complicated than usual.
If you show up to vote on Nov. 3 and are told you are on the suspense list, you will be required to fill out a "statement of residence" form, which will be available at the polls. That form should remove you from the suspense list by the next election.
Then, if you are in the same county as the previous election, you can return to your previous polling place and vote there. If you have moved to a new county and have not updated your registration, the state requires you to complete a "limited ballot application" during early voting to vote.
For the upcoming election, the last day to register to vote is Oct. 5 and early voting begins Oct. 19.
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This article originally published at 300,000 Houston-area voters are on Texas' suspense list. If you are, here's what to do..