San Antonio, Texas, December 18, 2025
Technical issues at the Texas Secretary of State’s office have led to incomplete candidate listings ahead of the primaries. Local officials face challenges as some candidates are missing from the state’s portal, causing confusion. Third-party candidates are particularly affected, struggling to gather signatures due to the current system. Ongoing efforts are aimed at resolving the glitches, but uncertain outcomes remain for local elections.
San Antonio, Texas – Technology Glitches Disrupt Candidate Listings Ahead of March 2026 Primaries
San Antonio, Texas – Recent technical issues at the Texas Secretary of State’s office have led to incomplete candidate lists, causing confusion among local party officials and election staff as they prepare for the March 3, 2026, primary elections.
Impact on Candidate Information
Local party leaders in Bexar County have reported that several candidates, particularly Republicans in multi-county congressional races, are missing from the state’s candidate portal. This has prompted party officials and county staff to cross-reference private rosters with state records to ensure all candidates are accurately listed.
Background on the Technical Issues
The problems stem from a significant update to the state’s TEAM (Texas Election Administration Management) voter-registration system implemented earlier this year. This overhaul has resulted in glitches and processing delays, affecting millions of records and leading to backlogs in voter registrations. The issues have also impacted the candidate portal, complicating the assembly of the primary ballot.
Efforts to Address the Situation
In response to these challenges, Bexar County has cleared tens of thousands of backlogged registrations by hiring temporary staff and integrating its street database directly into the TEAM system. County Elections Administrator Michele Carew has been collaborating with the Secretary of State’s office to resolve ongoing problems with the TEAM system. However, it remains uncertain whether the county will continue using TEAM for voter registration in the upcoming election. The county has identified VR Systems as a potential replacement but has not yet finalized the decision.
Challenges for Third-Party and Independent Candidates
Third-party and independent candidates are facing additional hurdles due to the current state of the candidate portal. The portal’s dropdown menu currently only displays Republican and Democratic candidates, meaning Libertarian and independent hopefuls do not appear publicly until their parties hold conventions or independents collect and qualify signatures. This situation leaves independent candidates with a limited timeframe to gather the necessary signatures after the March primaries to qualify for the November ballot.
Conclusion
The technical difficulties at the Texas Secretary of State’s office have created significant challenges for local party officials, election staff, and candidates as they prepare for the upcoming primaries. Ongoing efforts are being made to address these issues, but uncertainties remain regarding the resolution of the problems and the impact on the election process.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are the technical issues affecting the Texas Secretary of State’s office?
The issues are related to a significant update to the state’s TEAM (Texas Election Administration Management) voter-registration system, leading to glitches and processing delays affecting millions of records and causing backlogs in voter registrations and candidate listings.
How are these issues impacting local party officials and election staff?
Local party leaders and election staff are facing challenges due to incomplete candidate lists, prompting them to cross-reference private rosters with state records to ensure all candidates are accurately listed for the upcoming primaries.
What steps are being taken to address the situation?
Bexar County has cleared backlogged registrations by hiring temporary staff and integrating its street database into the TEAM system. County Elections Administrator Michele Carew is collaborating with the Secretary of State’s office to resolve ongoing problems with the TEAM system. The county is also considering switching to a new vendor, VR Systems, but has not yet finalized the decision.
How are third-party and independent candidates affected?
Third-party and independent candidates are facing additional challenges as the candidate portal currently only displays Republican and Democratic candidates. This means Libertarian and independent hopefuls do not appear publicly until their parties hold conventions or independents collect and qualify signatures, leaving them with a limited timeframe to gather the necessary signatures after the March primaries to qualify for the November ballot.
Key Features of the Situation
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Technical Issues | Glitches and processing delays in the TEAM voter-registration system affecting millions of records and causing backlogs in voter registrations and candidate listings. |
| Impact on Local Officials | Local party leaders and election staff are cross-referencing private rosters with state records to ensure accurate candidate listings for the upcoming primaries. |
| Efforts to Address | Bexar County is hiring temporary staff and integrating its street database into the TEAM system, while considering switching to a new vendor, VR Systems. |
| Challenges for Third-Party Candidates | Libertarian and independent candidates are not appearing publicly on the candidate portal until their parties hold conventions or they collect and qualify signatures, limiting their timeframe to gather necessary signatures after the March primaries. |
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Author: STAFF HERE SAN ANTONIO WRITER
The SAN ANTONIO STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERESanAntonio.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in San Antonio, Bexar County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Fiesta San Antonio, San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, and Dia de los Muertos. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County, plus leading businesses in retail, insurance, and energy that power the local economy such as H-E-B, USAA, and Valero Energy. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAustinTX.com, HERECollegeStation.com, HEREDallas.com, and HEREHouston.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Texas's dynamic landscape.
