Bexar County bucks Paxton's threats, proceeds with voter registration mail plan

AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- Bexar County will send voter registration forms to some 200,000 residents they believe are eligible to vote but not registered, following a heated Commissioner's Court meeting in which leaders weighed the risks of inviting Attorney General Ken Paxton's legal fight.

Paxton claims it is illegal for counties to mail out voter registration forms, worrying it could aid ineligible residents in attempting to register. He sent a letter to Bexar and Harris counties on Monday threatening a lawsuit if they proceed with their plans.

“It is unlawful and reckless for counties to use taxpayer dollars to indiscriminately send voter registration forms with no consideration of the recipients’ eligibility and without any statutory authority to do so,” Paxton said. “These counties’ attempts to do so after the Biden-Harris Administration has allowed millions of illegal aliens to enter the country are especially troubling.”

Paxton cited Texas' 2020 lawsuit against Harris County, in which the state challenged the county's efforts to send mail-in ballot applications to registered voters. The Texas Supreme Court ruled voters must request those forms themselves. Paxton argued that logic applies to Bexar County's plan -- county attorneys disagreed.

Commissioners voted 4-1 to approve the plan anyway. The county's sole Republican commissioner voted against it.

"We are facing the threat of a lawsuit, regardless of different legal opinions," Republican commissioner Grant Moody said. "We are accepting the fact that if we go forward with this item today, this county will face a lawsuit almost certainly from the AG's office. We're going to do all that, for what?"

Bexar County will spend nearly $400,000 to mail those 200,000 forms. The contractor told commissioners they expect that will yield 75,000 additional voters.

Nexstar asked the Attorney General's Office for more information, including when and whether he now intends to sue Bexar County. KXAN will update this if a statement if received.