SECTION 81.6. Matching Criteria

(a) Deceased Matching criteria. In accordance with provisions of Texas Election Code §18.068(b), information received under Texas Election Code §16.001, shall be matched against the voter registration rolls to identify Strong Match and Weak Match records based on the following criteria:

(1) Strong Matched Deceased records are identified when the Last Name, Full Social Security Number (SSN) (9 digits), and Date of Birth (DOB) match between the voter record and the deceased record.

(2) Weak Match Deceased records are identified when one of the following combinations matches between the voter record and the deceased record are identified:

(A) First Name, Last Name, and DOB;

(B) Last Name and Full SSN (9 digits);

(C) Full SSN (9 digits) and DOB; or

(D) Last Four Digits of the SSN, DOB, and One or More Name Component(s):

(i) Last Name (in deceased file) to Last Name;

(ii) Last Name (in deceased file) to Middle Name;

(iii) First Name to First Name (excluding a Last Name included match); and/or

(iv) Middle Name or Middle Initial Match (excluding any additional name match).

(b) Duplicate Matching criteria. In accordance with provisions of Texas Election Code §18.0681(b), potential duplicate registrations shall be identified as Strong Match and Weak Match records based on the following criteria:

(1) Strong Matched Duplicate records are identified when one of the following combinations matches between voter records:

(A) Last Name, First Name, and Full Social Security Number (SSN) (9 digits);

(B) Last Name, First Name, and Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)-Issued Driver License, Personal Identification Card, or Election Identification Certificate Number; or

(C) Last Name, First Name, Last Four Digits of the SSN, and Date of Birth.

(2) Weak Match Duplicate records are identified when one of the following combinations matches between voter records:

(A) Last Name, First Name, and Last Four Digits of the SSN; or

(B) Texas DPS-Issued Driver License, Personal Identification Card, or Election Identification Certificate Number.

(c) For all matching criteria involving a voter record, the voter's current and former Last Names are considered in the matching process where "Last Name" is designated.

Source Note: The provisions of this §81.6 adopted to be effective September 28, 2017, 42 TexReg 4985