Paxton launches election fraud investigations

(The Center Square) – The Office of the Texas Attorney General’s Election Integrity Unit has launched several election fraud investigations.

In one investigation, which has been ongoing since 2022, the OAG’s Criminal Investigation Division executed multiple search warrants on Tuesday in Atascosa, Bexar and Frio counties.

The investigation launched after the office received a referral from 81st Judicial District Attorney Audrey Louis regarding allegations of election fraud and vote harvesting that occurred during the 2022 elections.

After gathering evidence, the office obtained search warrants to further the investigation. No other details are available since the investigation is ongoing.

“Secure elections are the cornerstone of our republic,” Attorney General Ken Paxton said. “We were glad to assist when the District Attorney referred this case to my office for investigation. We are completely committed to protecting the security of the ballot box and the integrity of every legal vote. This means ensuring accountability for anyone committing election crimes.”

The Texas Constitution’s separation of powers clause prohibits the OAG from independently and unilaterally initiating prosecution of alleged election fraud because it is part of the executive, not judicial, branch. The OAG can only investigate and prosecute alleged election fraud or any other crime after county or district attorneys request it to.

On Wednesday, the OAG Election Integrity Unit also launched an investigation into organizations operating in Texas that “may be unlawfully registering noncitizens to vote in violation of state and federal law.”

Investigators recently conducted undercover operations in metropolitan areas to identify if noncitizens were being registered to vote. They have “already confirmed that various nonprofit organizations” have set up booths outside of Texas Department of Public Safety Driver License offices in an attempt to register to vote those arriving at DPS facilities, the OAG said.

All U.S. citizens are given an opportunity to register to vote when they renew their driver’s license or are issued an identification card, “so there is no obvious need to assist citizens to register to vote outside DPS offices – calling into question the motives of the nonprofit groups,” Paxton said.

“Texans are deeply troubled by the possibility that organizations purporting to assist with voter registration are illegally registering noncitizens to vote in our elections,” he said. “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?”

The OAG Election Integrity Unit is investigating every credible report it receives about potential criminal activity “that could compromise the integrity of our elections,” he said.

He also reiterated what other Republicans in Congress and fellow attorneys general have warned about: “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.

The OAG also issued a reminder about state election law.

“It is a crime in Texas to lie about your citizenship when you register to vote – or to help someone else do so,” it says. Those who do can receive a sentence of up to 180 days in a state jail and up to $10,000 in fines.

It is a crime to vote in Texas if the voter is not a U.S. citizen and a Texas resident. Helping someone to vote in Texas who is neither a citizen nor a Texas resident is also a crime that comes with a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines.