Texas Attorney General Takes Legal Action Against San Antonio Initiative

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against Bexar County over a controversial voter registration program, sparking a heated debate on election integrity and voter participation.

At a Glance

Attorney General Ken Paxton sues Bexar County over mass-mailing voter registration applications
The program would send applications to residents regardless of request or eligibility
Paxton argues the program is illegal and could lead to voter fraud
Bexar County officials defend the initiative as a means to increase voter participation
The lawsuit highlights ongoing tensions between expanding voter access and maintaining election integrity in Texas

Paxton Files Lawsuit Against Bexar County

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has taken legal action against the Bexar County Commissioners Court, filing a lawsuit to halt a voter registration program approved by the county. The program in question aims to mass-mail voter registration applications to residents, regardless of their request or eligibility status. This move by Paxton comes after the Bexar County Commissioners Court voted on September 3 to hire a third-party vendor for distributing the registration forms.

The Attorney General’s office contends that this initiative violates state laws surrounding voter registrations. Paxton argues that Texas counties lack the statutory authority to print and mail state voter registration forms, making the program illegal. Furthermore, he expresses concerns that the program could lead to ineligible individuals, such as felons and noncitizens, attempting to register to vote.

Attorney General Ken Paxton Sues Bexar County Over Unlawful Decision to Send Voter Registration Applications to Potentially Ineligible Voters: https://t.co/udIoU37Luf

— Texas Attorney General (@TXAG) September 4, 2024

Paxton’s Concerns and Legal Arguments

In his statement regarding the lawsuit, Attorney General Paxton didn’t mince words about his opposition to the Bexar County program. He emphasized the potential risks associated with the initiative and its alleged illegality.

“Despite being warned against adopting this blatantly illegal program that would spend taxpayer dollars to mail registration applications to potentially ineligible voters, Bexar County has irresponsibly chosen to violate the law,” said Attorney General Paxton. “This program is completely unlawful and potentially invites election fraud. It is a crime to register to vote if you are ineligible.” Source

Paxton’s lawsuit seeks an injunction to prevent the program from taking effect. The Attorney General had previously warned the Bexar County Commissioners Court against implementing this program, citing legal concerns. Despite this warning, the court proceeded with a 3-1 vote to approve the mailing proposal.

Broader Context and Political Implications

This legal battle is part of a larger, ongoing conflict over voting and elections in Texas between Republicans and Democrats. Bexar County, a Democratic stronghold that voted for President Biden by 18 points in 2020, finds itself at the center of this dispute. The controversy highlights the tension between efforts to expand voter participation and concerns about maintaining election integrity.

Similar registration disputes are occurring nationwide. In Michigan, the Trump campaign is opposing state efforts to expand registration at federal offices. Additionally, nine Republican state attorneys general recently sued the Biden administration over an executive order to expand voter registration.

Texas state officials, including Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Paxton, have been increasingly aggressive in preventing what they claim are attempts to circumvent strict election rules. They argue that such efforts could potentially lead to fraud in the upcoming November election.

Bexar County’s Defense and Counterarguments

Bexar County officials defend their voter registration initiative, arguing that it aims to increase voter participation and engagement. Larry Robertson of the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office stated that voter registration is widely available and different from vote-by-mail restrictions, which have faced legal challenges in the past.

The contractor responsible for sending out the forms has assured that returned forms are checked against state and federal data to prevent noncitizens from being registered. This safeguard is intended to address concerns about potential voter fraud.

It’s worth noting that a Cato Institute report found the rate of noncitizen voting to be effectively zero, contradicting claims of widespread voter fraud by noncitizens. However, Texas state Republicans, including Governor Abbott and Attorney General Paxton, have made noncitizen voting a focus of the 2024 campaign.

As this legal battle unfolds, it will likely continue to fuel the ongoing debate over voter access and election integrity in Texas and across the nation. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for future voter registration efforts and the balance between expanding voter participation and maintaining the integrity of the electoral process.