Amidst a political climate marred by accusations and maneuvers, a collective of Democratic Texas lawmakers have turned to the U.S. Justice Department, seeking an investigation into what they suspect are voter rights violations by Texas officials. According to CBS Austin, these allegations include a recent voter roll purge and raids on Latinos' homes tied to purported election fraud, along with intimidating actions toward voter registration organizations.
These investigations and practices have sparked anxiety across communities, particularly among Latinos. As The Texas Tribune reported, the crackdown comes after a Fox News host's debunked claim concerning migrants registering to vote near Fort Worth, which didn't deter Attorney General Ken Paxton from launching a probe. Following this, Paxton's office targeted a local Democratic candidate and an aide in Frio County using search warrants, further raising the tension and fear of suppression during election time.
Texas officials have also touted the removal of approximately one million names from the state's voter rolls, claiming routine maintenance, which was echoed by Gov. Greg Abbott. This action, under scrutiny from Democrats, is feared to have swept legitimate voters in its wake. Their concerns include the potential violation of a federal law that proscribes such extensive roll maintenance within 90 days of an election, as the legislators highlighted in their letter requesting DOJ intervention.
Moreover, the legislators put forth that similar probes were instigated against nonprofits and nongovernmental organizations that work with migrants after Gov. Abbott directed investigations into their legal responsibility for "facilitating the illegal transportation of illegal immigrants." Some Texas judges have mostly dismissed such initiatives by Paxton's office, which included attempts to shut down organizations like the migrant shelter network Annunciation House, wrongly accused of human smuggling, as detailed by CBS Austin.
As for assisting voters, there are protocols to be followed. As relayed by The Texas Tribune, while Texas allows citizens to help others with voter registration and casting ballots, the elections administrators underscore the importance of completing required information accurately. Election fraud, despite being a grave concern in current political discourse, is statistically minuscule. Cases have been extensively tracked, and yet, they represent less than 0.0001% of ballots cast, showing an overwhelming majority of lawful participation amidst the rhetoric of fraud.
