Texas officials have opened investigations into 33 individuals suspected of illegally voting in the November 2024 general election, after Secretary of State Jane Nelson referred the cases to Attorney General Ken Paxton. The move follows the state’s recent use of a federal immigration verification system to cross-check voter eligibility.
The announcement came after Nelson’s office reported, on June 5, that it had identified 33 people on the state’s voter rolls who allegedly cast ballots despite not being U.S. citizens. The findings were based on data from the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database, maintained by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This database, designed to confirm individuals' immigration or naturalization status, is commonly used by federal and state agencies to verify eligibility for public benefits and government services.
The Secretary of State's Office gained access to the SAVE database following an executive order issued by former President Donald Trump. That order, focused on election integrity, directed the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide states with free access to citizenship data to help verify the legal eligibility of voters.
“This is a vital tool for maintaining the integrity of our voter rolls,” said Secretary Nelson in a statement. “Ensuring that only U.S. citizens vote is not only a legal requirement, it is fundamental to maintaining trust in our democratic system.”
Attorney General Ken Paxton echoed that sentiment in a press release Tuesday morning: “Noncitizens must not be allowed to influence American elections, and I will use the full weight of my office to investigate all voter fraud. These potential instances of unlawful voting will be thoroughly investigated.”
Paxton originally urged Nelson in September 2024 to seek access to the SAVE database ahead of the November election, citing concerns about illegal voting. Nelson formally requested access from USCIS in a letter dated October 2, 2024, stressing the department’s obligation to assist state officials in verifying voter eligibility.
After receiving access to the federal system, the Secretary of State’s office conducted a review and said it found evidence of noncitizen voting “within weeks.” The findings led directly to the 33 referrals to the Office of the Attorney General.
At this stage, it remains unclear whether the individuals voted intentionally while ineligible or whether the data could reflect clerical errors or outdated immigration records. The Attorney General's office has not yet confirmed the citizenship status of the individuals under investigation or whether charges will be filed.
Critics have cautioned against drawing conclusions too quickly. Voter rights organizations have historically warned that such database matches can sometimes result in false positives due to errors in immigration records, naturalization status updates, or name mismatches. They argue that these efforts, while aimed at securing elections, risk disenfranchising eligible voters or fueling undue fears about voter fraud.
Still, Paxton has maintained a firm stance: “In order to be able to trust the integrity of our elections, the results must be determined by our own citizens — not foreign nationals breaking the law to illegally vote.”
The investigations are ongoing, and further details are expected in the coming months as the Attorney General’s office reviews each case. Paxton concluded his statement by reaffirming his alliance with former President Trump, stating, “I will continue to stand with President Trump in fighting to ensure that our state’s elections are safe and secure.”
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