Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced an extensive investigation into the voting activities of more than 100 individuals suspected of casting ballots as noncitizens during the 2020 and 2022 election cycles. The inquiry, which alleges these individuals participated in over 200 instances of voting across multiple counties, has plunged the state into a contentious debate over election integrity.
On Tuesday, Paxton expressed his firm stance: “Illegal aliens and foreign nationals must not be allowed to influence Texas elections by casting illegal ballots with impunity. I will not allow it to continue.” This investigation is a direct result of President Donald Trump's executive order that facilitated state access to the SAVE (Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements) database, managed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
While Harris County has been the focus of most identified suspicious activities, the investigation has also extended to Guadalupe, Cameron, and Eastland counties. The Texas Secretary of State's office has played a crucial role in this process, providing data which has enabled the cross-checking of voter registrations against citizenship records to identify potential illegal voting.
This isn't the first time Texas has taken measures to safeguard its elections. Recently, 33 individuals were referred to Paxton's office for allegedly voting illegally in the November 2024 election, flagged using the SAVE system. Paxton has been vocal about the importance of this tool, stating, “If you’re a noncitizen who illegally cast a ballot, you will face the full force of the law.”
Despite these allegations, election officials and independent studies have consistently found that noncitizen voting in the United States is a rare occurrence. Widespread voter fraud of this nature is not considered a significant problem by most experts. However, Paxton and other Republican leaders argue that the integrity of elections is compromised even by a small number of illegal votes, necessitating strict enforcement of election laws to ensure fairness.
The investigation coincides with a politically charged period, as Paxton is campaigning to challenge U.S. Senator John Cornyn in the 2026 Republican primary. This move has raised questions about the timing and motives behind the probe. It also comes ahead of a vote on a Texas constitutional amendment that seeks to reaffirm the citizen-only voting requirement, a standard that is already in place under current laws.
Across the nation, states like New Hampshire, Louisiana, and Wyoming have passed laws mandating documentary proof of citizenship to vote. Texas lawmakers attempted to pass similar legislation, but it did not progress during the legislative session.
Paxton's office remains committed to prosecuting every confirmed case of illegal voting, emphasizing that these investigations are part of a broader statewide effort to protect election integrity. The accessibility of the SAVE system is seen as a crucial component in this ongoing battle to ensure only eligible voters participate in Texas elections.
