More than 22,000 people were purged from the Hidalgo County voter roll within the last year after the county was unable to verify their addresses.
The Hidalgo County Elections Department maintains that nearly all of the 22,634, who make up about nine percent of the county's electorate, did not try to vote in last November's general election.
Most of those purged from the list are people who didn't vote in November. But people who did vote - and failed to complete a statement of residence after changing homes - could also be affected.
As many as 21 Hidalgo County municipalities - including cities, school districts and irrigation districts - have elections scheduled for May 9. Early voting begins April 27.
In McAllen, Mayor Richard Cortez, as well as City Commissioners Scott Crane, Marcus Barrera and Hilda Salinas are up for re-election.
"Here comes some major elections in May," Ramón said. "I guarantee you ... they'll say, ‘I was registered. You didn't notify me.' But how can we?"
Many voters don't include their phone numbers on their registration cards, and mail from the county wouldn't work since the voters never received their registration cards in the first place.
"If you have not received your card and you registered, call us," Ramón said. "It's the only way we know."
