Texas Attorney General Sues Travis County Over Voter Registration Efforts

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ICARO Media Group
Politics
06/09/2024 18h59

In a move to block an initiative aimed at registering more voters ahead of the November election, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against Travis County. The draft copy of the lawsuit was obtained by The Texas Tribune and Votebeat, shedding light on the legal battle unfolding in the state.

The lawsuit comes as a response to the decision made by Travis County commissioners to hire Civic Government Solutions, a company responsible for reaching out to non-registered residents in the county and encouraging them to register. Travis County encompasses Austin, the capital city of Texas.

Following news of the lawsuit, Ann Howard, a Travis County Commissioner, expressed that they believed the initiative was a "nice thing to do" during The Texas Tribune Festival. However, Paxton condemned the decision, labeling it as illegal.

According to Paxton, "Travis County has blatantly violated Texas law by paying partisan actors to conduct unlawful identification efforts to track down people who are not registered to vote. Programs like this invite fraud and reduce public trust in our elections. We will stop them and any other county considering such programs."

In response, a spokesperson for Travis County stated that the commissioners stand by their decision. Hector Nieto, the spokesperson, emphasized their commitment to encouraging voter participation and ensuring the integrity of the voter registration process. Nieto expressed disappointment in Paxton's stance, mentioning that it discourages participation in the electoral process.

This lawsuit follows a similar action taken by Paxton against Bexar County, which includes San Antonio, and marks a series of steps by both Paxton and Governor Greg Abbott, both Republicans, to safeguard voting rights in Texas. Last month, Abbott announced the removal of approximately one million people from the state's voter rolls, citing the need for regular maintenance. However, election experts cautioned that this could undermine trust in elections.

Travis County, along with Harris and Bexar counties, is considered a Democratic stronghold in the predominantly Republican state. The outcome of these legal battles could have implications for voter registration efforts in Texas.

As this story continues to develop, The Texas Tribune will provide updates on this legal dispute. The Texas Tribune Festival, which offers a platform for political discourse and news from across Texas, will also feature discussions related to this important issue.

The views expressed in this article do not reflect the opinion of ICARO, or any of its affiliates.

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