AUSTIN – Attorney General Ken Paxton today commended the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit for granting a temporary administrative stay in what he’s calling an unlawful decision by a federal district court in San Antonio that allowed anyone in Texas to vote by mail using protections specifically created to aid those with an actual disability or illness.
“I applaud the Fifth Circuit for issuing this temporary stay while the case proceeds. Protecting the integrity of elections is one of my top priorities, and allowing universal mail-in ballots would only lead to greater fraud and disenfranchise lawful voters,” said Paxton.
“Law established by the Legislature must be followed consistently, including carefully limiting who may and may not vote by mail.”
Paxton opposed the lower court ruling, saying that it allows anyone to vote by mail using protections specifically created to aid those with a true disability or illness that renders them incapable of voting in-person.
“Mail-in ballots are vulnerable to fraud,” said Paxton. “Two-thirds of all election fraud cases prosecuted by my office involve mail ballot fraud, also known as ‘vote harvesting.’ Allowing widespread mail-in ballots will lead to greater fraud and disenfranchise lawful voters.”
The Texas Democratic Party is directed to respond to the motion to stay by 3 p.m. Thursday, May 21.