By Kanishka Singh
(Reuters) - Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Wednesday sued one of the state's most populous counties, asking a court to block its plan of mailing unregistered county residents voter registration forms, a court filing showed.
Bexar County lacks the authority to send out unsolicited registration applications, which county officials are sending to eligible, but unregistered, voters, the lawsuit said.
WHY IT'S IMPORTANT
In the 2020 elections, Democratic President Joe Biden carried the county while Republican former President Donald Trump carried the entire state. Biden won the 2020 U.S. presidential election.
Biden won Bexar County, the state's fourth most populous county and home to San Antonio, by 18 points, according to the Texas Tribune. Overall, Trump carried the state with 52.1% of the vote compared to Biden's 46.5%, the newspaper added.
Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, the current Democratic candidate, are locked in a tight race for the presidency, with less than two months to go before the Nov. 5 election.
KEY QUOTES
The county's actions exceed its "statutory authority," the lawsuit filing says.
Paxton in his statements in recent days had tried to paint the voter registration plan as a way of registering non-citizens to vote. Supporters of the plan deny that claim and say the step is simply aimed at increasing voter participation.
"We've got people who just need to get registered. We don't tell them who to vote for," County Commissioner Justin Rodriguez, who brought this idea to local leaders, was quoted as saying in the Washington Post.
Analysis and Implications
In a nutshell, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has taken legal action against Bexar County for its plan to mail voter registration forms to unregistered residents. This move has sparked a contentious debate, with Paxton alleging that the county is overstepping its authority while supporters argue that it is a necessary step to boost voter turnout.
The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications, not just for Bexar County but for the entire state of Texas. With the 2020 elections showing a divide between Democratic and Republican support in the county, the decision on this issue could impact future electoral outcomes.
Ultimately, the battle over voter registration forms in Bexar County underscores the ongoing tensions surrounding voting rights and access to the ballot box. It serves as a reminder of the importance of civic engagement and the role that local government plays in shaping the electoral process.
