Houston, TX – Common Cause Texas joined a coalition of civil rights and pro-democracy organizations calling for the U.S. Department of Justice to monitor the 2022 Midterm Elections in Harris County.

Days before the start of early voting, Texas Secretary of State John Scott sent an alarming letter to the Harris County Elections Administrator unfairly attacking the integrity of the county’s election system and announcing that the Texas Attorney General, Ken Paxton, a candidate on the upcoming ballot, will be sending a “task force” to police the election in Harris County, the most populous and diverse county in Texas. 

This letter, its public announcement, and the dispatch of a “task force” from the Texas Attorney General’s Office are extremely unusual and concerning, especially without accompanying safeguards to ensure the “task force” does not disrupt the voting process currently underway. For these reasons, on top of the fact that this decision arises from the state’s partisan “audit” into the 2020 presidential election, strongly suggests that this is a continuation of partisan efforts to undermine faith in our election system and to lay the groundwork to discredit the upcoming election results. 

It is critical for a neutral, independent entity, like the U.S. Department of Justice, to deploy federal observers to monitor the 2022 Midterm Elections in Harris County, Texas.

Statement of Anthony Gutierrez, executive director of Common Cause Texas

All Texans and Harris County residents deserve to be able to cast their ballots free from intimidation and threats. This isn’t the first time Harris County has been the target of partisan attacks, and too much is at stake in this election to allow these antics from elected officials to continue. 

After years of relentless disenfranchisement efforts aimed specifically at Houston-area voters in Harris County, it is clear that the letter from the Secretary of State is the continuation of the ongoing partisan campaign to target Harris County voters and undermine Texas democracy. 

That’s why Common Cause Texas is joining forces with our allies to echo the call of Harris County officials for the federal justice department to intervene and protect Texans’ most precious right — their right to vote. With recent reports of record-breaking voter registration in Texas, The Department of Justice must take action to protect the integrity of every Texas voter.

Our democracy will not be bullied into submission by those seeking to bypass the will of the people. Common Cause Texas will continue our nonpartisan election protection efforts, where any Texas voter can call 866-OUR-VOTE to report issues and receive assistance at the polls.