Tax Office Tackling Voting Problems In Advance
Bettencourt Mailing Out Nearly 140,000 Notices To Relocated Voters

HOUSTON – July 6, 2005 - Harris County Voter Registrar Paul Bettencourt has mailed confirmation notices to nearly 140,000 registered Harris County voters believed to have moved recently to remind them to update their addresses before the next elections.

“This is a pre-emptive solution to future voting problems,” Bettencourt said. “We’re not waiting for a voter who has moved to send us a change of address notice or to just show up at the polls on Election Day. We want to eliminate voter registration issues in advance.”

The Tax Office compared Harris County voter registration records electronically with the U.S. Postal Service National Change of Address (NCOA), the Texas Department of Public Safety Drivers License, and the Secretary of State Master Voter Registration files for this initiative. The comparison showed 137,019 registered voters with different forwarding addresses or driver’s license updates in the past year.

The notices should arrive today to advise registered voters that Bettencourt’s office has reason to believe the recipients’ current addresses are different from the information on the voter registration roll.

“We’re the only major voter registration office in the state that takes this proactive step to find voters that have moved in advance of an election,” added Bettencourt. “This saves tens of thousands of voters a lot of time on Election Day and yields a more accurate and complete voter roll.”

Voters receiving notices need to return their postage–free Address Confirmation Form, included in the letter with updated information, to the Tax Office within 30 days. The Tax Office also will mail a second notice before placing non-responsive voters on “suspense” status. A registered “suspense” voter may still vote in their former precinct after completing a Statement of Residence Form for two federal election cycles.

For more information, registered voters may call 713-368-2200 or 713-368-VOTE (8683) or visit the Harris County Tax Office website at www.hcvoter.net to verify the status of their registration.

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