Latest Contributions

• GOP donor, voter fraud activist is a finalist to run elections in Tarrant County

  By Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas Tribune June 14, 2023

  Karen Wiseman previously sued former election administrator Heider Garcia and participated in a right-wing group’s search for 2020 voter fraud. She’s one of the three finalists, none of whom have experience running elections. Full Story 

• Texas is set to improve in-person and mail-in voting for people with disabilities

  By Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas Tribune June 9, 2023

  Voters with disabilities have been pushing for more accessibility for years. This legislative session two bills gained bipartisan support. Full Story 

• Harris County elections face state intervention under new Texas voting laws

  By Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas Tribune June 1, 2023

  The bill’s sponsor says greater oversight is needed for Texas’ largest county as county officials have vowed to fight the legislation in court. Full Story 

• Texas Legislature averts $100 million consequences of 2021 law requiring nonexistent election technology

  By Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas Tribune May 26, 2023

  Lawmakers voted unanimously to reverse the 2021 provision that would have decertified equipment that counties use to count votes. Full Story 

• Texas Senate again approves increasing penalty for illegal voting to a felony, regardless of intent

  By Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas Tribune May 24, 2023

  The House and Senate bills had differed on whether someone should be punished for voting by mistake. Now the two chambers must reach an agreement. Full Story 

• Texas set to exit multistate program that cleans voter rolls

  By Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas Tribune Updated: May 23, 2023

  The multistate program, ERIC, is considered by election administration experts across the country to be the best tool for preventing double voting across state lines. It has been the target of conspiracy theories. Full Story 

• Harris County must remove its elections chief under new legislation headed to Gov. Greg Abbott

  By Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas Tribune May 23, 2023

  The Republican-led House also approved a bill that would give the secretary of state new authority to investigate complaints in Harris County. The Senate must review changes to that bill before it becomes law. Full Story 

• After a setback, a GOP effort to get Texas out of a multistate coalition to clean voter rolls could move forward

  By Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas Tribune May 17, 2023

  The legislation — backed by some of the state’s prominent believers in voter fraud — was unexpectedly killed by its House sponsor Tuesday. On Wednesday, he asked for it to be reconsidered. Full Story 

• Alan Vera, a Republican voter-fraud activist, dies at Texas Capitol

  By Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas Tribune May 4, 2023

  Vera, who planned to testify on election legislation, was a regular at the statehouse. Two weeks ago, lawmakers sang “Happy Birthday” to him during a House Elections Committee hearing. Full Story 

• Texas House advances bill to eliminate Harris County election chief position

  By Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas Tribune May 2, 2023

  The new law would force the county to move election duties under its clerk and tax assessor-collector, in reaction to what critics call a continued pattern of election problems. Full Story