Texas AG sues Bexar County over unsolicited voter registration forms

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against Bexar County, claiming that the county's plan to mail unsolicited voter registration forms is illegal. The county, which encompasses San Antonio, intended to send out 210,000 applications with the aim of registering 75,000 new voters. Paxton argues that this initiative could lead to voter fraud, as it may include ineligible individuals such as noncitizens. He emphasized that it is a crime for ineligible persons to register to vote. The lawsuit follows a warning from Paxton to the Bexar County Commissioners Court, which had approved the plan in a 3-1 vote. The court allocated significant taxpayer funds to Civic Government Solutions (CGS) for this purpose, despite concerns about the potential for confusion and fraud. Paxton referenced a previous successful lawsuit against Harris County regarding similar issues, reinforcing his stance that the actions of Bexar County exceed their legal authority. Bexar County's initiative was backed by CGS, a company led by Jeremy Smith, who has expressed progressive political views. Although CGS assured the court that their work would be nonpartisan, Paxton's lawsuit highlights the risks associated with their involvement. He pointed out that since 2021, Texas has removed 6,500 noncitizens from its voter rolls, with nearly 2,000 of those having voted, underscoring the importance of maintaining election integrity. The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for voter registration practices in Texas, particularly in Democratic strongholds like Bexar County. As the legal battle unfolds, it raises questions about the balance between encouraging voter participation and ensuring the integrity of the electoral process.