AUSTIN, TX — Senator Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) issued the following statement after Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson formally notified Harris County that her office has opened an immediate investigation into the County’s voter registration practices. The action follows Senator Bettencourt’s official complaint submitted last week to both the Secretary of State and Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector Annette Ramirez.

In her letter, Secretary Nelson confirmed that she has informed Harris County officials of the investigation and is acting under the authority granted by SB 1933 (88th Legislature), authored by Senator Bettencourt, named the Alan Vera Memorial Act. Under this statute, the State may assume administrative oversight of Harris County elections if an investigation identifies patterns of noncompliance.

“I take the issues raised in this complaint very seriously, and my office will begin an immediate investigation,” said Secretary Nelson. “If we find reason to believe the Harris County Elections Office is failing to protect voter rolls or is not operating in the good faith Texans deserve, we will not hesitate to take the next step toward state oversight,” she stated in her official release.

Senator Bettencourt’s complaint included new 2025 data showing 60+ active voter registrations tied to private mailbox addresses at two UPS Store locations in Harris County, with a hundred more that could have similar illegal registrations that is in direct violation to state law passed in 2021, SB 1111, also authored by Senator Bettencourt. This is the first ever compliant received by Texas SOS under SB 1933.

“The data is clear: Harris County is still allowing voters to register using private P.O. Boxes, which is illegal under Texas law,” said Sen. Bettencourt. “No one lives inside a P.O. Box and why I passed SB 1111 four years ago, it’s very disappointing it has not been implemented in Harris County.”

Harris County’s new Tax Assessor-Collector and Voter Registrar Annette Ramirez responded to Bettencourt’s complaint, confirming her office is reviewing two voter registration P.O. Box locations being used for as voter registration addresses and will “take prompt action”.

“However, while welcomed, this is an incomplete response, as there are multiple locations that need to be reviewed,” Senator Bettencourt responds. “It is of paramount importance that we have voter roll integrity in Texas so that the public can trust the outcome of any election,” he concluded.

The Secretary of State’s bulletin notes that Harris County must respond within 30 days to the investigation as outlined under SB 1933. The SOS also reiterated that voters must list a physical residence address, not a P.O. Box under Texas law and stated that the office will “use all tools available” to ensure accountability and protect the integrity of the voter rolls. Click for full SOS official letter.

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