Texas purges over one million ineligible voters to ensure election integrity.
At a Glance
- Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced the removal of over 1 million people from the state’s voter rolls.
- The removal is part of an effort to eliminate ineligible voters, including those who have moved, are deceased, or are noncitizens.
- Noncitizens with a voter history are being referred for investigation and potential legal action.
- Critics argue that laws like SB 1 restrict voting rights and disenfranchise marginalized voters.
Texas Ensures Election Integrity
In a decisive move to secure election integrity, Texas has purged over one million ineligible voters from its rolls. Governor Greg Abbott announced the removal, detailing that this extensive action included deceased individuals, multiple registrations, and non-citizens identified through a recent audit. The removal effort is seen by proponents as essential in preventing voter fraud and maintaining trust in the electoral system.
The breakdown of removed voters is detailed: over 6,500 noncitizens, over 6,000 with felony convictions, over 457,000 deceased individuals, over 463,000 on the suspense list, over 134,000 who moved, over 65,000 who didn’t respond to a notice, and over 19,000 who requested cancellation. This comprehensive audit and purge process underscores the state’s commitment to election integrity. Abbott reaffirmed the significance of this measure, stating that “the Secretary of State and county voter registrars have an ongoing legal requirement to review the voter rolls, remove ineligible voters, and refer any potential illegal voting to the Attorney General’s Office and local authorities for investigation and prosecution.”
Legislative Actions and Criticisms
The voter roll maintenance and purging process stems from Senate Bill 1, signed in 2021, which increased penalties for false voter registration and mandated biennial audits of county election offices. Governor Abbott’s recent signing of House Bill 1243 further increased the penalty for illegal voting to a second-degree felony, emphasizing the state’s tough stance on election security.
Illegal voting in Texas will NEVER be tolerated. Election integrity is essential to our democracy.
Texas has removed over one million ineligible people from our voter rolls—including noncitizens and deceased voters.
More: https://t.co/UVif1sK1Gg pic.twitter.com/EiJLcnUEdY
— Gov. Greg Abbott (@GovAbbott) August 26, 2024
Despite these measures, the process has faced significant criticism. Critics argue that laws like SB 1 restrict voting rights and disenfranchise marginalized voters. This sentiment was echoed by Eddie Morales, a Democrat from Eagle Pass, who termed state investigations into voter fraud “scare tactics.” Further legal challenges came to a head when the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas ruled that parts of SB 1 violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Implications for Other States
Texas is not alone in its voter roll purges; similar efforts are occurring in other Republican-controlled states such as Ohio and Virginia. Ohio has removed 26,000 inactive voter registrations, while Virginia eliminated 3,400 due to a computer error. These states, like Texas, are working towards ensuring voter confidence and electoral integrity.
Gov. Abbott remarked, “Illegal voting in Texas will never be tolerated. We will continue to actively safeguard Texans’ sacred right to vote while also aggressively protecting our elections from illegal voting.”
Governor Greg Abbott’s announcement has made waves across the state, with public and political figures weighing in on both sides. While acknowledging the importance of election security, lawmakers like State Rep. Mano DeAyala emphasized the need for transparency and public trust in the electoral process.
From an administrative perspective, the Secretary of State and county voter registrars bear the responsibility of maintaining accurate voter rolls. Noncitizens with a voter history have been flagged for investigation and potential legal action, reflecting the thoroughness of Texas’s approach. The state’s actions stand as a beacon for others in the quest to fortify election systems against fraud and inaccuracies.
