Fort Bend Elections Commission to review claim that 2023 annexation left Missouri City residents off voter rolls until Oct. 17

At a public hearing on Oct. 28, 2024, the Fort Bend County Elections Commission reviewed correspondence from Missouri City alleging that a 2023 annexation was not properly incorporated into the county voter system, causing newly annexed residents to be added only on Oct. 17, 2024.

County Attorney Bridgette Smith-Lawson summarized the correspondence and exhibits, including a certified letter and return receipt Missouri City provided as Exhibit A and a note that Missouri City notified the county of irregularities on Oct. 18. The materials assert that Fort Bend County Development Services Manager Maggie Dalton acknowledged receipt of the annexation notice on Aug. 30, 2023, requested updated boundary maps (Exhibit B), and that maps were sent the same day (Exhibit C). Missouri City Secretary Crystal Rome is also listed as having communicated with the county election administrator (Exhibit D).

Commission members requested copies of the exhibits and asked staff to determine whether the county received the required notice and, if so, why annexed residents were not designated correctly until Oct. 17, 2024. The commission’s stated follow-up tasks include verifying Missouri City’s claims, reviewing the certified letter, return receipt and email correspondence, assessing potential voter disenfranchisement, and considering corrective or legal actions as needed.

The commission did not reach a final determination during the meeting and agreed to continue the discussion after members have had an opportunity to review the referenced exhibits. The hearing was called under Texas Election Code §31.033.