US Texas democrats request DOJ to investigate alleged voters’ rights violations News
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US Texas democrats request DOJ to investigate alleged voters’ rights violations

A coalition of twelve Texas Democrat senators sent a letter to the US Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday requesting an investigation into alleged voters’ rights violations committed by Texas officials. They claim that recent actions by Texas officials, including voter registration cancellations and the targeting of voter registration and political advocacy organizations violate the voting rights of Texans.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced on August 26, 2024, that over one million people had their voter registration canceled over the past three years for being unqualified to vote, such as “people who moved out-of-state, are deceased, and are noncitizens.” The senators stated that they “strongly support the maintenance of accurate voter registrations[.]” However, they expressed concern that Governor Abbott may have stripped many qualified voters of their ability to vote due to the large number of voter registration cancellations, the lack of transparency regarding the evidentiary basis of the cancellations,  and the timing of these actions. The senators also noted that Texas has a history of voter suppression and pointed out that the Governor’s ongoing cancellations within ninety days before a federal election are prohibited by federal law.

The senators were also concerned about Texas Attorney General (AG) Ken Paxton’s investigation into various voter registration organizations for allegedly registering noncitizens at the Texas Department of Public Safety Driver License offices. The investigation was launched because “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.” However, the senators argued that the investigation spreads misinformation and causes unnecessary discouragement from voting, claiming that, “[a]s confirmed by DPS, the Parker County Elections Administrator, and the local Republican Party Chair, there was no evidence of any such activity.”

Additionally the senators accused AG Paxton of targeting organizations that advocate for political positions he opposes. They pointed to Paxton’s “attempt to shut down Annunciation House in El Paso, a religious organization that has provided migrants shelter for nearly half a century.” The senator added that Paxton’s investigation of the organization is a part of a broader pattern of actions that have a “disproportionate impact on Latinos and other communities of color, which is sowing fear and will suppress voting.”

Previously, AG Paxton alleged that the organization had illegally transported undocumented immigrants and requested to enjoin it from “conducting business in Texas.” Paxton denied the judge’s accusation that the investigation of Annunciation House due to its “support for the Catholic Church” and claimed that his office would appeal the dismissal that has no evidentiary basis to support.

The senators raised these pressing issues as US Election Day approaches on November 5, 2024.

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