A Texas state district court has dismissed Attorney General Ken Paxton's lawsuit aimed at blocking a voter registration drive in Bexar County, home to San Antonio.
According to The Hill, the dismissal comes as Texas faces tightening races in both the Senate and presidential elections. The decision marks a setback for Republican efforts to challenge Democratic voter registration initiatives in the state.
State District Judge Antonia Arteaga ruled that Paxton's lawsuit against Bexar County was moot, as the county had already distributed voter registration forms to unregistered voters. This action was at the center of the legal dispute, with Paxton arguing that the county had overstepped its legal authority by sending out these forms.
The lawsuit against Bexar County is part of a broader Republican campaign targeting Democratic voter registration efforts in Texas. This campaign has been characterized by claims and theories suggesting a Democratic plot to manipulate the election through illegal voting.
Bexar County's decision to send registration forms to unregistered voters prompted Paxton's legal challenge. However, the county's swift action in distributing the forms before the court could intervene effectively rendered the lawsuit moot.
The assistant district attorney for Bexar County argued that the targeted unregistered voters had already received the forms and may have already returned them, supporting the judge's decision to dismiss the case.
Following the court's decision, Attorney General Paxton expressed strong disapproval of Bexar County's actions. He accused the county of employing "dirty tricks" to avoid judicial review of what he termed a "clearly unlawful program."
Paxton stated:
In a display of bad faith, Bexar County engaged in dirty tricks to avoid appropriate judicial review of a clearly unlawful program that invites voter fraud. These actions demonstrate that Bexar County knew what they were doing was wrong, yet expedited the mailout of unsolicited registration forms before the issue could be argued in court.
The Attorney General has since announced his intention to appeal the court's decision, indicating that this legal battle may continue.
The dismissal of Paxton's lawsuit occurs against the backdrop of increasingly competitive races in Texas. Recent polls show Democratic Representative Colin Allred within the margin of error against incumbent Republican Senator Ted Cruz, suggesting that voter registration could play a crucial role in the outcome.
Texas has historically had lower voter registration and turnout rates compared to many other states. In 2020, less than 80 percent of the state's voting-age population was registered to vote, with just over half of eligible voters casting ballots.
With less than three weeks remaining until the voter registration deadline for the upcoming election, both political parties are likely to intensify their efforts to register new voters.
The dismissal of Attorney General Paxton's lawsuit against Bexar County's voter registration drive marks a significant development in Texas's electoral landscape. The court's decision allows the county to proceed with its registration efforts, potentially impacting the upcoming Senate and presidential races. Paxton's appeal and the ongoing debate over voter registration practices highlight the contentious nature of election-related issues in the state.
