Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has issued charges against six individuals allegedly involved in election crimes related to vote harvesting.
The majority of those arrested were charged with voting harvest, a third-degree felony charge that involves a financial exchange to collect and submit other people’s absentee ballots.
“The people in Texans deserve a fair and honest election, not a backroom deal or political insider. They believe that elected officials can stay in order to maintain their power.
“My office will continue to work with Julio County District Attorney Audrey Louis to protect the integrity of the election.”
At the time, when a warrant was provided, one of the nation’s oldest Latino civil rights groups, called the Attorney General’s actions an effort to suppress voters.
“This is voter suppression 101,” he said. “There’s no ballot harvest. No one will create these votes. That’s a lie.”
Julio County Judge Rochelle Camacho was charged with a three-vote ballot harvest, and former Julio County election administrator Carlos Segura faces one count of alteration or manufacturing of physical evidence.
Pearsall City Council members Ramilo Trevino and Laciel Garza were each indicted in one vote harvest.
Pearsall ISD trustee Adriann Ramirez was charged with a three-vote ballot harvest, while Frio County voter Rosa Rodriguez was charged with a two-vote ballot harvest.
The recent arrests are part of Paxton’s multi-year efforts to deal with voter fraud after the 2020 election.
“We are fully committed to protecting the security of our ballot boxes and the integrity of any legal vote, which means ensuring accountability for those committing election crimes.”