AUSTIN – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has opened an investigation into reports that organizations operating in Texas may be unlawfully registering noncitizens to vote in violation of state and federal law.
According to a press release from Paxton's office, investigators from the Texas Attorney General’s Election Integrity Unit recently conducted undercover operations to identify potential voter registration of noncitizens in Texas. The investigation already has confirmed that various nonprofit organizations have been located outside Texas Department of Public Safety Driver License offices, operating booths offering to assist in voter registration for persons doing business at the driver’s license offices.
But all citizens have already been presented an opportunity to register to vote as part of the process of renewing or being issued an identification card or driver’s license, so Paxton's office is noting there is no obvious need to assist citizens to register to vote outside DPS offices and calling into question the motives of the nonprofit groups.
“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 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? 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."
The AGs office says it also is a crime in Texas to lie about your citizenship when you register to vote — or to help someone else do so. Offenders can be sentenced up to 180 days in a state jail and pay up to a $10,000 fine. It also is a crime to vote in Texas if you are not a United States citizen and a Texas resident, or to help someone vote who is not. Those convicted can be sentenced up to 20 years in prison and pay up to a $10,000 fine.
Paxton's office says the undercover operations have been conducted throughout major metropolitan areas of Texas and are ongoing.
Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson recently reminded Texans of measures the state takes to stop noncitizen voting.
“The State of Texas uses safeguards and checks against noncitizen voting, which is illegal under state law” Nelson said.
In 2021, Governor Greg Abbott signed a law creating additional election integrity measures including ongoing citizenship checks of Texas voter rolls and ID requirements for mail-in ballots. The law also increased penalties for false statements on a voter registration application.
County voter registrars are also required to review their voter registration records and send notices to any voter who the registrar reasonably believes is not eligible for registration, including noncitizenship. Any Texan can challenge a voter’s registration due to lack of U.S. citizenship by filing a sworn statement with the county registrar. A challenge results in a hearing and cancellation of the voter’s registration if the voter cannot produce adequate proof of citizenship. If a registrar determines that a person on the voter rolls, including a noncitizen, is ineligible to vote, they must report it to the Attorney General and the Secretary of State within 72 hours.