They did a round of purges in 2004 and 2006. You are right however that the National Voting Rights Act (NVRA) is a federal law that prohibits voter purges within 90 days of an election. And it is a huge problem across this country. Not just Texas.
U.S. PIRG just released a report in Sept of 2008 detailing the problems in states across America not following NVRA.
US PIRGVanishing Voters: Why Registered Voters Drop Off the Rolls2008-09-24
Executive Summary
Recommendations
1. States should assess their compliance with the NVRA and immediately take steps to ensure they are following federal law.
2. Each state’s Secretary of State or chief election administrator should send a letter to election officers and local officials explaining and clarifying the rules.
3. The Department of Justice must enforce the NVRA, including the 90-window and the notification requirements.
4. States should properly train state and local employees who are responsible for managing voter rolls in order to reduce the likelihood of improper purging.
5. States should be prohibited from purging a voter from the rolls unless his or her name, address, sex, and phone number match the person whom should be removed.
6. Any state with a problem maintaining the rolls should be required to conduct an internal investigation.
7. Congress should expand the NVRA notification rule so that all voters who are dropped from the rolls are notified rather than just those who are being dropped because they have moved.
8. States should post purged names on a public forum that is free to access, such as the Internet.
There are numerous ways in which states are in non-compliance with NVRA rules and, in so doing, jeopardizing the right of eligible voters to vote. By adopting these recommendations, government can promote the democratic process and help ensure that citizens who are entitled to vote have the opportunity to do so.
Texas violates the NVRA by not notifying all voters that they are about to be dropped off the rolls for non-activity.
Sonia