Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has thrown down the gauntlet to the Biden-Harris administration, demanding their assistance in identifying nearly half a million individuals potentially registered to vote in Texas without a proven claim to U.S. citizenship.

Paxton is insisting on federal cooperation in his efforts to verify the status of 500,000 individuals, emphasizing the importance of election integrity amid increasing concerns surrounding voter eligibility, as Fox News reports.

The AG urged federal authorities to provide crucial data to help confirm the citizenship status of up to 500,000 individuals possibly registered to vote improperly in Texas.

On Monday, Paxton addressed a formal correspondence to Ur Jaddou, director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

In his letter, he outlined his request for data to identify those who might be erroneously included in the voter rolls without confirmed citizenship. His call was underscored by criticism of existing federal laws he believes hinder the state's ability to verify citizenship effectively.

This request comes on the heels of a serious effort by Texas to ensure compliance with both federal and state laws, preventing non-U.S. citizens from exercising voting rights. Paxton noted that, under current regulations, non-citizens can legally obtain driver’s licenses or state ID cards. However, these forms of ID should not extend to voter registration, he argued.

Paxton Presses for Federal Cooperation

The Texas AG is adamant when it comes to obtaining the federal data, stating that the Biden-Harris administration has a "legal obligation" to support state efforts in verifying citizenship status. "I demand full cooperation from the federal government," Paxton publicly asserted, reinforcing what he sees as a duty on the part of national leaders.

In addressing the persistent issue of illegal voter registration, Paxton cited various legislative and judicial scenarios. He drew attention to how federal law theoretically blocks non-citizens from voting, yet also leaves loopholes whereby unauthorized voter registration might occur. These contradictions, he suggested, undermine electoral integrity.

Furthermore, the failure of the Senate to pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE Act) was, in Paxton’s view, another missed opportunity to bolster election security.

This act, according to Paxton, would play a crucial role in closing gaps in voter registration procedure, thus preventing potential non-citizen voting.

State Actions to Ensure Voting Eligibility

Within Texas, recent actions paint a clearer picture. Paxton’s office recently acquired a list identifying 454,289 registered voters who have not undergone citizenship verification. This extensive list serves as a foundation for the current push for data assistance.

Paxton acknowledges the probability that the vast majority of persons on this list are legitimate citizens eligible to vote. Nonetheless, he maintains that without federal data, there is significant uncertainty surrounding the potential presence of ineligible non-citizens on the voter lists.

Recently, a random audit by the Texas Secretary of State identified over 1,300 non-citizens registered across four counties. "That is 1,300 too many," Paxton remarked, emphasizing that many elections are decided by slim margins.

Political Context and Broader Implications

The push for data coincides with broader Republican concerns over voter integrity, particularly in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election. The Texas state government has been active on this front; under Gov. Greg Abbott’s administration, 6,500 potential non-citizens have already been removed from voter rolls since 2021.

Paxton’s actions are not isolated, as similar voter roll reviews are seen across the United States. For instance, Oregon officials recently reported the identification of 302 additional non-citizens mistakenly registered, on top of a previous tally of over 1,000 such cases since 2021.

Meanwhile, in a separate judicial development, the Arizona Supreme Court had ruled that nearly 98,000 individuals whose citizenship verification remained incomplete would still participate in upcoming elections. This decision underscores the variations in state approaches to voter verification and reflects growing national discourse.

Conclusion

Paxton's call for federal intervention signals the critical emphasis placed on election integrity and voter eligibility verification.

His insistence on collaboration with national authorities highlights ongoing tensions between state and federal roles in electoral administration.

As debates continue, the demand for reliable voter registration systems remains a pivot point in safeguarding American electoral processes.