Actions taken by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton have raised the ire of both Democrats and Latino leaders in the Lone Star State.
As part of what his office claims is an effort to combat voter fraud, Paxton launched a series of undercover operations and investigations according to a press release issued on Aug. 21. Citing the presence of non-profit organizations operating voter registration booths outside state drivers license offices, Paxton suggested these organized groups might be trying to register non-citizens to vote in upcoming elections.
“Texans are deeply troubled by the possibility that organizations purporting to assist with voter registration are illegally registering noncitizens to vote in our elections,” Paxton wrote.”If eligible citizens can legally register to vote when conducting their business at a DPS office, why would they need a second opportunity to register with a booth outside?
“My office is investigating every credible report we receive regarding potential criminal activity that could compromise the integrity of our elections. The Biden-Harris Administration has intentionally flooded our country with illegal aliens, and without proper safeguards, foreign nationals can illegally influence elections at the local, state, and national level. It is a crime to vote—or to register to vote—if you are not a United States Citizen. Any wrongdoing will be punished to the fullest extent of the law.”
What is more troubling to Latinos is that the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the largest and oldest Hispanic and Latin-American civil rights organization in the United States, seems to have fallen into Paxton’s crosshairs.
Notably, on Aug. 20 87-year-old Lydia Martinez was confronted at her front door by nine heavily-armed law enforcement officers in tactical gear who executed a search warrant of her home. In the process, Martinez reports the officers left with her computer, phone, personal calendar and voter registration materials. She also said she was interrogated for three hours in the process.
Martinez has been a member of LULAC for 35 years, and has been active in efforts to get out the Hispanic vote. She was not alone in recent raids.
Manuel Medina, who is the chair of the Tejas Democrats and also a member of LULAC, said law enforcement officers violently forced entry into his home.
“I’ve been on campaigns for 30 years and never in my life could I have ever imagined anything that I do that would merit them breaking down my door and pointing six assault semi-automatic weapons in my face,” Medina said in a statement to the Texas Tribune.
The Texas Democratic Party has been swift to condemn Paxton’s actions, calling it an affront to free and fair elections.
“Greg Abbott, Ken Paxton, and Dan Patrick will stop at nothing to sow distrust in our election system,” said Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa. “Using secret police-like tactics to raid the homes of the elderly and Democratic strategists, while ignoring their own Secretary of State’s claims of ‘clean voter rolls,’
“Texas Republicans will stop at nothing to undermine our democracy. They resort to fear tactics and misinformation to suppress voter turnout and cling to power, knowing that our movement for a blue Texas is gaining momentum every day. We won’t be intimidated — Texans are ready to stand up for their rights and make their voices heard at the ballot box this November.”
Likewise, LULAC leadership has also reacted with anger to these recent developments. In an Aug. 26 letter to Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Kristen Clarke at the U.S. Department of Justice, LULAC President Roman Palomares and CEO Juan Proaño excoriated the actions of Paxton against Texas Latinos and called for a federal investigation.
“The targeting of Lydia Martinez is part of a broader pattern of voter intimidation that affects both Latino and Black communities,” the letter read. “Attorney General Paxton’s are not isolated incidents but part of a concerted effort to suppress the growing political power of minority communities in Texas. These actions are reminiscent of past attempts to intimidate and disenfranchise voters through fear and coercion.”
Paxton’s investigative efforts have been led by his office’s Election Integrity Unit. This unit was created in the wake of the 2020 election when many supporters of former President Donald J. Trump claimed the election was stolen for President Joe Biden by fraudulent means. To date, no evidence has been presented to substantiate such claims. The Democrat leadership in Texas is calling on its constituents to be undeterred by these actions as the 2024 election draws near.
“It’s imperative that eligible voters turn out in record numbers to show undeniable support for Texas Democrats up and down the ballot, defeating Texas Republicans’ continued election denialism,” Hinojosa said. “As we near the October 7th voter registration deadline, we encourage Texans to check their registration, ensure eligible friends and family are registered, and double-check vote-by-mail applications before submitting them to their local elections office. Learn more about voter registration and mail voting at MyTexasVotes.com.”
Abbott strikes over 1 million from voter rolls
In an Aug. 26 press release, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced he had removed more than 1 million voters from Texas voter rolls.
The list includes 6,500 “potential noncitizens,” 1,930 of which have a voting record and will be referred for investigation. Also included are deceased persons, felons and those who moved out of state.
This is authorized by Senate Bill 1 from 2021, passed after the loss of Trump in the 2020 election, which many Republicans still dispute.
