Attorney General Ken Paxton Secures Major Victory Preventing Biden-Harris Administration From Unlawfully Sending DOJ Personnel Inside Texas Election Locations
The U.S. Department of Justice announced last night that it would not enter polling places or central counting locations in Texas, nor would it interfere with the administration of elections in the state. This decision came just hours after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against the DOJ, responding to its earlier announcement that federal agents would be sent to “monitor” elections in Texas.
On November 1, just four days before Election Day, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that it would send federal election monitors to eight counties in Texas: Atascosa, Bexar, Dallas, Frio, Harris, Hays, Palo Pinto, and Waller. In response, the Texas Secretary of State informed the DOJ that state law prohibits federal monitors from entering polling places or central counting stations. On November 4, Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against the DOJ and federal officials, arguing that no federal statute grants the Biden-Harris Administration the authority to send federal agents to monitor state elections when state laws explicitly prohibit it.
Following Attorney General Paxton’s lawsuit and request for a temporary restraining order, the Department of Justice (DOJ) reversed its position and agreed to comply with Texas election law. According to the agreement, all DOJ monitors will remain outside polling places and central counting locations. They must adhere to Texas laws governing conduct within 100 feet of these sites and must not interfere with voters attempting to cast their ballots. Additionally, a federal judge has ordered the Biden-Harris Administration to confirm that no monitors will be present at Texas polling locations or enter tabulation centers in violation of Texas law.
Election administrators and members of the public are urged to report any violations of this agreement to the appropriate local election officials and to the Office of the Attorney General at illegalvoting@oag.texas.gov. Texas’s lawsuit against the DOJ will remain open until the election concludes to ensure the DOJ’s compliance.
“Texans run Texas elections, and we will not be bullied by the Department of Justice,” said Attorney General Paxton. “The DOJ knows it has no authority to monitor Texas elections and backed down when Texas stood up for the rule of law. No federal agent will be permitted to interfere with Texas’s free and fair elections.”
To read the agreement, click here.
To read the order, click here.
