The latest information regarding Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s warnings to counties over voter registration involves his actions towards Bexar and Harris counties. Paxton has sent letters to these counties, cautioning them against their proposed plans to mail voter registration forms to what he describes as “unverified recipients.” Here are the key points:
– **Purpose of the Warning**: Paxton argues that sending out unsolicited voter registration applications could lead to ineligible individuals, such as felons and noncitizens, attempting to register to vote, which would be illegal. He emphasizes that this action could be seen as an attempt to manipulate voter rolls unlawfully.
– **Counties Involved**: Specifically, Bexar and Harris counties are considering using taxpayer funds to engage third-party vendors to distribute these voter registration forms.
– **Legal Threat**: Paxton has threatened to sue these counties if they proceed with these plans, stating that counties have no statutory authority to print and mail state voter registration forms in this manner.
– **Public and Political Reaction**: There’s been a mix of support and criticism. Some posts on X (formerly known as Twitter) reflect concerns over the potential for voter suppression, suggesting that these actions by Paxton could be seen as efforts to intimidate or discourage certain groups from registering to vote. Conversely, others support Paxton’s stance as a measure to protect election integrity.
– **Context of Voter Roll Maintenance**: This move comes in the context of Texas having removed over 1 million voters from its rolls since 2021, an action framed by Governor Greg Abbott as routine maintenance but criticized by others as potentially intimidating or suppressing voter turnout.
This situation underscores ongoing tensions in Texas over voting rights and election security, with Paxton’s office taking a firm stance on maintaining what they describe as the integrity of the voter registration process. However, critics view these actions as part of broader efforts to challenge or limit voter registration drives, particularly those targeting communities likely to vote against the current administration’s interests.
