Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched an investigation into reports that nonprofit organizations may be illegally registering non-citizens to vote, following undercover operations by the state's Election Integrity Unit that uncovered suspicious activities outside of Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) offices.
“Texans are deeply troubled by the possibility that organizations purporting to assist with voter registration are illegally registering noncitizens to vote in our elections,” Attorney General Paxton said in a press release. “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?”
According to the press release, the state's Election Integrity Unit found various nonprofits working at locations outside of DPS offices to help individuals with voter registration. The motives of these organizations are being questioned because Texas citizens already have the opportunity to register to vote during the process of obtaining or renewing their driver's licenses at DPS offices.
“My office is investigating every credible report we receive regarding potential criminal activity that could compromise the integrity of our elections,” Paxton said. “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.”
Under Texas law, individuals who falsely claim U.S. citizenship when registering to vote or assist others in doing so can be sentenced to up to two years in state jail and fined up to $10,000, according to the press release. Additionally, individuals who are non-U.S. citizens or non-residents of Texas who vote illegally or help others who are ineligible to vote may face up to 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
