Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced the removal of over one million names from voter records to safeguard election integrity, including around 6,500 potential noncitizens, amidst concerns of voter suppression.
HOUSTON-Governor Greg Abbott announced on Monday that Texas has removed over one million names from its voter records.
Photo Source: Instagram/governorabbott
He argues that this action is necessary to protect the integrity of the election. Although the removals predominantly involve individuals who have relocated out of state or have passed away, they also encompass approximately 6,500 individuals whom Abbott identified as potential noncitizens.
"In Texas, illegal voting will never be tolerated," Abbott declared in a press release. "We will persist in our efforts to protect the sacred right of Texans to vote and to protect our elections from illegal voting aggressively."
He underscored that the attorney general's office will receive the removed names to conduct a prospective criminal investigation.
This announcement is in accordance with Senate Bill 1, a comprehensive election law that Abbott signed in September 2021. The law is designed to enhance voting regulations by prohibiting drive-through voting and implementing more stringent identification requirements for mail-in ballots.
The Secretary of State and county registrars are legally required to conduct an ongoing evaluation of voter rolls, according to Abbott's office. As per Abbott's breakdown, the purged names consist of over 6,500 noncitizens, over 6,000 individuals with felony convictions, approximately 457,000 deceased voters, over 463,000 voters on a suspense list, approximately 134,000 voters who confirmed they had relocated, over 65,000 who failed to respond to address confirmation notices, and over 19,000 who requested registration cancellation.
Critics contend that the widespread removal of names raises concerns regarding voter suppression, despite Abbott's assertions.
According to State Rep. Eddie Morales, "The governor is advocating for these removals as a safeguard for our elections; however, it is imperative that we do not disenfranchise any legitimate voters in the process."
Morales continued, “Our priority should be to ensure that voting is accessible rather than to exacerbate its challenges.”
Voter fraud has been a contentious issue in Texas, particularly in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election, which resulted in increased scrutiny of election processes in Republican-led states.
Nevertheless, the absence of pervasive voter fraud in audits conducted in major Texas counties has prompted inquiries regarding the necessity and impact of such purges.
The final day for voter registration in Texas is October 7, as the state prepares for the forthcoming November elections.
Advocates continue to call for transparency and fairness in the electoral process as Abbott's administration is scrutinized for its voter register practices.
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