BEEVILLE – Voters worried they won’t be able to cast a ballot in the upcoming election because their registration expired in December can relax.

Linda Bridge, Bee County tax assessor-collector, said, “As a result of ongoing redistricting litigation, the mailing of new voter registration certificates is delayed.

“The expiration of your old voter registration certificate on Dec. 31 does not invalidate your voter registration.”

This isn’t just a local problem either.

“Actually it has been statewide,” Bridge said. “It was our notification to the secretary of state that prompted them to put a notification on their website.”

Along with a plethora of calls to her office, many people have been walking in believing they need to fill out new registration forms.

“Yesterday we had one lady that said she was calling the governor’s office to complain on us,” she said.

The concern about voter registration has been circulating via email recently with the bold black letter, “Check your voter registration!!!”

“Mine expired; check yours,” the email reads in part. “So far no proof of fraud, such as omitting all Republicans or all Democrats...

“Probably just incompetence, to allow this change without public notification.”

Bridge said that in only a few instances do people need to do anything to keep their voter registration valid.

• If you do not have any changes to your voter registration (i.e., you haven’t moved or changed your name), no action is needed at this time.

• If you remain in your county of registration but have changed your residence address or name, you will need to submit your updated information to your county voter registrar and your new voter registration certificate will be mailed to you from your county voter registrar.

• If you have changed your residence address to a new county, you will need to submit a new voter registration application no later than the 30th day before Election Day.

• If you are not sure where you are registered, you can check at www.sos.state.tx.us.

Bridge said that for now, she and her office workers are waiting on lawmakers before mailing out new cards.

Bridge added, “Once the court approves interim redistricting maps and counties have the opportunity to finalize precinct lines, the county will issue new voter registration certificates.”

The question though is when will the redistricting maps be competed.

Bridge said that the primaries are tentatively scheduled for May 29.

Until a final date is set though, new voter registration cards can’t be mailed.

“They have not finished redistricting,” she said. “That is why the mass mail-out has not happened.”

Bridge said that when the secretary of state gives the go-ahead, then her office will mail out the new cards.

“They do not want to push out voter registration with the wrong information on it,” she said.

Jason Collins is the editor at the Bee-Picayune and can be reached at 358-2550, ext. 121, or at editor@mySouTex.com.