Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced a significant update regarding the state's voter rolls on Monday, highlighting the removal of over one million ineligible voters since the implementation of Senate Bill 1 in September 2021.
This action is part of broader efforts by the state to bolster election integrity, particularly in light of concerns surrounding illegal immigration and voter fraud. The removal of these ineligible voters includes noncitizens, deceased individuals, and others who failed to respond to state notifications.
The Daily Caller reported that Senate Bill 1, signed into law by Abbott in 2021, introduced a series of measures aimed at tightening voting regulations and ensuring that the electoral process remains secure.
Among these provisions were the establishment of uniform statewide voting hours, the banning of drive-through voting, and stricter oversight of election procedures by poll watchers.
The bill also prohibited the unsolicited distribution of mail-in ballot applications while simultaneously expanding voting access for those requiring additional assistance.
Since the bill's passage, over 1.1 million names have been purged from Texas voter rolls. These include hundreds of thousands of deceased individuals, voters who were on the state's suspense list, and more than 100,000 people who did not respond to address confirmation notices sent by election officials.
Additionally, more than 6,500 noncitizens have been removed from the voter rolls as part of this effort.
The governor emphasized that these actions are critical to maintaining the integrity of the state's elections.
"Election integrity is essential to our democracy," Abbott stated. "I have signed the strongest election laws in the nation to protect the right to vote and to crack down on illegal voting."
Abbott further elaborated on the significance of these reforms, noting that the removal of ineligible voters is a direct result of the legislation he championed.
"These reforms have led to the removal of over one million ineligible people from our voter rolls in the last three years, including noncitizens, deceased voters, and people who moved to another state," he said.
The announcement of the voter roll purge coincides with record levels of illegal immigration under the Biden-Harris administration.
Texas, with its extensive border with Mexico, has been particularly impacted by this influx. Since the beginning of the current administration, over eight million migrants have crossed the U.S.-Mexico border or arrived at ports of entry, presenting unique challenges for border states like Texas.
Abbott's decision to reinforce voter roll accuracy is also seen as part of a broader strategy to address these challenges.
By ensuring that only eligible voters participate in the state's elections, Texas aims to prevent potential abuses of the electoral system amidst the ongoing immigration crisis.
Texas is not alone in its efforts to enhance election integrity. Several other Republican-led states have implemented similar measures.
In Virginia, for instance, Governor Glenn Youngkin issued an executive order in July aimed at strengthening election integrity. As a result, the state's attorney general oversaw the removal of 6,000 noncitizens from Virginia's voter rolls.
In Arizona, Maricopa County's recorder is currently facing a lawsuit from America First Legal, which alleges that the county has not adequately purged its voter rolls of noncitizens.
These actions reflect a growing trend among GOP-led states to take a proactive stance in securing their elections against potential fraud and ineligible voting.
