Texas AG investigates 33 potential noncitizen votes in 2024 election

In early March 2024, the United States witnessed a significant investigation initiated by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton regarding potential illegal voting by noncitizens in the 2024 election. This investigation was sparked by an executive order from President Donald Trump, which aimed to enhance voter integrity across the nation. Under this order, state officials were granted access to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service’s SAVE Database, enabling them to verify the citizenship status of individuals who registered to vote. Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson utilized this database to identify 33 cases of individuals believed to have unlawfully voted, stating that the access granted through Trump’s order was a transformative move for her office's mission. The Texas AG's office subsequently pledged to investigate these incidents thoroughly, emphasizing the importance of restricting noncitizens from affecting the electoral process. Paxton's office voiced strong sentiments against the notion of foreign nationals affecting elections, insisting that only U.S. citizens should be allowed to vote, a claim supported by various statements made by officials regarding the integrity of the electoral system. Furthermore, the executive order also aimed to ensure that state and local election officials received complete information about foreign nationals who may have attempted to vote or had registered in elections. This measure was seen as crucial for maintaining the credibility of the electoral process in the United States. Amid ongoing discussions about voter fraud, Paxton’s investigation aligned with broader efforts to bolster voter integrity, as laid out in Trump’s initiatives. As months unfolded following this announcement, some controversies arose regarding voter roll purges and whether states, including Texas, were adequately addressing genuine cases of voting by noncitizens. Paxton faced criticism for inflating numbers related to noncitizen voting, prompting debates about election security and processes in the state. With these ongoing concerns, the legality and reliability of the measures taken by Paxton and his office continued to be scrutinized, reflecting the polarized emotions surrounding election integrity issues in contemporary American politics.