According to the governor, the Texas secretary of state’s office has identified nearly 2,000 individuals as noncitizens based on their voting history. These individuals will now be investigated by Attorney General Ken Paxton.
After the press release was published, his office made edits to soften the language by including the term “potential” before noncitizens.
Abbott’s assertions have played a significant role in fueling baseless Republican allegations that noncitizens are planning to vote in large numbers in order to influence elections in favor of Democrats. These claims, which former President Donald Trump and his party are leveraging, aim to undermine the credibility and fairness of the upcoming November election.
According to Abbott, the number of people who received their letters and did not respond is likely included in the reported 6,500 individuals. However, Abbott did not provide any further comments on the matter, and Secretary of State Jane Nelson declined an interview.
After reaching out to over 70 individuals in both categories, news organizations have discovered that there are at least nine U.S. citizens in three Texas counties who were mistakenly identified as noncitizens or had their names removed from voter rolls due to their failure to respond to citizenship-related letters.
In order to confirm their citizenship, these individuals were able to provide reporters with their birth certificates or reporters were able to verify their citizenship through state records.
Ockleberry, a proud Texan, shared her birth certificate with the news organizations to prove her roots. Throughout her life, she had only ventured outside of the state on two occasions, with her most recent adventure taking her to California.
When the governor’s press release was released, election experts and local officials became concerned about cases like Ockleberry’s. They felt that the press release gave the impression that officials had confirmed the noncitizen status of 6,500 people, even though they had not done so.
Five years ago, Texas officials made the claim that there were nearly 100,000 noncitizens registered to vote, with almost half of them having cast their ballots.
However, upon closer examination, these claims were found to be unfounded. This led to a lawsuit and subsequent settlement that now regulates how Texas can identify potential noncitizens.
Using this data to make assertions about noncitizens reveals the pitfalls inherent in the discrepancies.
According to Meredith, Abbott’s choice to reveal, without providing any explanation, that 6,500 noncitizens were eliminated from the voter rolls undermines trust in the Texas voter registration process unnecessarily. She also noted that the initial announcement failed to clarify that these individuals were only potential noncitizens.
Routine Maintenance, Political Purpose
This Article Includes
One of the key aspects of effective governance is the ability to carry out routine maintenance tasks. These tasks may seem mundane, but they are crucial for the continued functioning of a society. From fixing potholes on the roads to ensuring that public facilities are well-maintained, routine maintenance plays a vital role in keeping a city or a country running smoothly.
However, routine maintenance can also serve a political purpose. Governments often use maintenance projects as a way to demonstrate their commitment to the well-being of their citizens. By investing in the upkeep of public infrastructure, they show that they care about the everyday needs of the people they govern. This can help to build trust and support among the population.
Moreover, routine maintenance projects can also be used as a platform for political messaging. For example, a government might prioritize maintenance work in certain areas to highlight their efforts in addressing the needs of marginalized communities. They may also use maintenance projects as an opportunity to showcase their achievements and promote their political agenda.
While routine maintenance is undoubtedly essential for the smooth functioning of a society, it is important to recognize that it can also be influenced by political considerations. As citizens, it is crucial to stay informed and critically evaluate the motivations behind maintenance projects. By doing so, we can ensure that routine maintenance serves its intended purpose of improving the well-being of the people, rather than being used solely for political gain.
Voter rolls undergo natural changes over time. Individuals relocate, pass away, attain citizenship, and come of age at 18. Election officials nationwide continuously update the rolls by adding and removing individuals for valid reasons.
“It caused a great deal of fear among many individuals. We have been inundated with numerous phone calls and emails from concerned citizens who are worried about their absence from the voter rolls,” Elfant expressed.
County election officials must adhere to legal requirements in situations like these. They are obligated to inform voters and provide them with a 30-day window to respond before their names are taken off the voter rolls. Election officials are well aware that these safeguards do not always function effectively.
According to election officials, not responding to a letter questioning someone’s citizenship does not confirm that they are not a citizen.
In 2019, the secretary of state’s office made an announcement regarding the identification of 95,000 registered voters who were potentially noncitizens. It was revealed that over half of these individuals had already cast their ballots, thus exposing significant flaws in the process.
The attorney general, Paxton, wasted no time in taking to social media to share a strong message about voter fraud. He posted an alert, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation.
Abbott, the governor, also expressed his gratitude on Twitter to Paxton and the secretary of state’s office for their diligent efforts in uncovering and investigating this illegal vote registration.
Trump joined in, adding his voice to the conversation with a tweet, suggesting that the numbers reported by the state were only scratching the surface of a much larger issue.
The state reached a settlement in the case and agreed to notify the secretary of state’s office only when individuals self-identify as noncitizens during the application process for a new ID with DPS and if they had previously registered to vote.
According to Becker, a former senior trial attorney in the voting section of the U.S. Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, the state seems to have provided a figure without thoroughly clarifying its methodology or verifying the information.
According to Becker, if the governor were to present this data in a court of law without evidence, it would not hold up under scrutiny.
Noncitizens Identified
Justin Comer, 29, was taken aback when he learned that the state had purged numerous noncitizens from the voter rolls. It never crossed his mind that he could be one of them.
Comer was born in Harris County, the renowned Houston hometown, and raised in the conservative Montgomery County, just on the outskirts of the city.
He proudly shared that he had been a registered voter there since he turned 18 and had actively participated in presidential elections ever since.
In a phone interview, Comer expressed his enduring fascination with local politics. He emphasized the importance of staying informed and actively participating in this realm, encouraging both himself and his wife to play their part.
In 2023, the county elections office sent him a notice, flagging him as a potential noncitizen. He had to provide proof of his citizenship within 30 days, or his registration would be canceled. According to the letter he received, Comer had stated that he was not a citizen when responding to a jury summons.
Comer believes that he accidentally clicked the wrong button while responding to the notice online; he had actually intended to indicate that he had moved. Currently, he is registered to vote in Collin County, where he resides.
“I was simply perplexed,” Comer expressed. “Having lived in Texas my entire life, it was never a matter of doubt for me.”
Colon claims that she does not remember registering to vote, despite the county stating that they received an application from her at some point.
Interestingly, in this application, she did not answer a question regarding her citizenship. The county has shared public information with news organizations, which indicates that she was identified as a potential noncitizen based on the data from DPS.
After relocating to California, Colon expressed her desire to return to the El Paso area where she once resided. One of the reasons behind her decision to register to vote in El Paso is to address any misconceptions regarding her U.S. citizenship status. During an interview, she emphasized her unwillingness to let others falsely claim that she is not a U.S. citizen.
It is highly likely that there are more U.S. citizens among the thousands of voters who were removed and labeled as noncitizens by Abbott. In Montgomery County, for instance, reporters found Texas birth certificates for two more voters whose registrations were cancelled because they did not answer citizenship-related questions. Unfortunately, these voters could not be reached for comment by the news organizations.
Noncitizens occasionally engage in voting, although these instances are infrequent and do not significantly impact election results, according to experts.
It is important to note that noncitizens who choose to vote can face severe consequences, including criminal penalties, the revocation of their residency status, and even deportation.
For instance, in 2017, Rosa Ortega, a U.S. permanent resident residing in North Texas, mistakenly believed that her green card allowed her to vote. Consequently, she cast five ballots over a span of ten years. However, she was convicted of voter fraud by a Tarrant County jury and subsequently sentenced to eight years in prison.
According to Meredith, an elections expert from the University of Pennsylvania, it wouldn’t be unexpected if some individuals who were removed from the Texas voter rolls were indeed noncitizens who had voted in a prior election.
However, this does not indicate that the issue is widespread. Meredith emphasized that we should not assume that a few cases are evidence that this occurs frequently.
Reporters also discovered several noncitizens who claimed to have unintentionally registered as voters after receiving unsolicited voter registration applications.
This has been a persistent concern for Republicans, who fear that such outreach efforts may lead to a significant number of noncitizens participating in the electoral process. One individual received the application from a voting advocacy group, while another received it while completing other state paperwork.
In both instances, the individuals truthfully completed the form and indicated that they were noncitizens. It is important to note that neither of them actually cast a vote.
The election workers from Collin and Travis counties, where these incidents took place, acknowledged that these voter registration applications should not have been approved. This is because the applicants clearly identified themselves as noncitizens, and their inclusion in the voter rolls was a result of clerical errors.
The news organizations examined three voter registration applications submitted by Mai, where he indicated that he was not a U.S. citizen by checking a box. They conducted an interview with Mai, who hails from Vietnam and has limited proficiency in English, with the assistance of an interpreter.
“I informed the reporters that I was unable to vote,” he stated. “Voting has never been a practice I engage in.”
Building a Strong Case
When it comes to constructing a compelling argument, it is crucial to lay a solid foundation. To build a strong case, one must gather all the necessary evidence and present it in a coherent and persuasive manner. This involves conducting thorough research, analyzing the data, and organizing the information in a logical sequence.
The first step in building a case is to gather all relevant evidence. This includes collecting documents, conducting interviews, and reviewing any available records or data. By compiling a comprehensive set of evidence, one can ensure that their argument is well-supported and backed by facts.
Once the evidence is collected, it is important to analyze and evaluate the data. This involves examining the information for any patterns, inconsistencies, or gaps in the evidence. By critically assessing the data, one can identify any weaknesses or vulnerabilities in their argument and address them accordingly.
Organizing the information in a logical sequence is another key aspect of building a strong case. By presenting the evidence in a clear and coherent manner, one can enhance the persuasiveness of their argument. This may involve structuring the information into sections or categories, using visual aids such as charts or graphs, and providing a clear narrative that guides the reader through the evidence.
In addition to presenting the evidence, it is important to anticipate and address any counterarguments or objections that may arise. By acknowledging and refuting opposing viewpoints, one can strengthen their own argument and demonstrate their credibility as a debater.
Building a strong case requires careful planning, meticulous research, and effective organization. By following these steps, one can construct a compelling argument that is both persuasive and well-supported by evidence.
In a recent legal action, the Justice Department took legal action against Alabama for their election-related activities. Alabama’s secretary of state had identified over 3,000 individuals who were suspected of being noncitizens and had directed county officials to remove them from the voter rolls.
However, this action was deemed illegal as it occurred too close to a federal election. The Justice Department’s investigation revealed that both naturalized and native-born citizens were affected by this attempt to clean the voter rolls.
In Texas, Abbott and Paxton have been actively promoting claims about noncitizens attempting to vote in the November election.
In August, Paxton made headlines with his office’s investigation into allegations of voter fraud. One such allegation involved nonprofits allegedly setting up booths outside state driver’s license offices and registering noncitizens to vote. This claim was initially propagated by a Fox News host.
Additionally, Paxton announced that his agency had conducted raids on homes in three South Texas counties as part of their voter fraud investigation.
The following day, the attorney general appeared on conservative personality Glenn Beck’s radio show, where he discussed debunked claims that President Joe Biden is allowing immigrants to enter the country illegally with the intention of voting for Democrats in elections.
In the past few weeks, Paxton has been actively releasing a series of news updates, persistently pursuing the identification of noncitizen voters.
In an October 2 news release, Attorney General Paxton, expressing frustration, criticized Nelson for her lack of action in providing information about possible noncitizens to the federal government.
He requested that Nelson’s office share the list of names with him so that he could personally forward it to the government. Despite being a Republican and an appointee of Governor Abbott, Nelson’s efforts were deemed insufficient by Paxton.
Nelson later furnished Paxton with the voter records of individuals who do not possess a Texas driver’s license or identification card number in the state’s voter registration database. The provision of this list was accompanied by a clear and explicit warning.
According to Nelson, the records do not provide any evidence or indication of a list of potential non-United States citizens on the State’s voter rolls.
Data research and reporting for this article were contributed by Dan Keemahill from ProPublica, Alejandra Martinez from The Texas Tribune, and Thomas Wilburn from Votebeat.