On September 28, 2024, U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez issued a ruling that significantly weakens Texas’ ability to secure its elections. The judge struck down key provisions of Senate Bill 1 (SB1), a law passed in 2021 to combat ballot harvesting, a practice where third parties collect and submit absentee or mail-in ballots on behalf of voters. Judge Rodriguez ruled that these provisions violated the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution, preventing Texas from investigating and prosecuting cases of vote harvesting. This decision raises serious concerns about the future of election integrity in Texas.

Defending Texas Election Integrity

Senate Bill 1 was a decisive step by the Texas Legislature to ensure secure elections. It made the act of collecting ballots for compensation a third-degree felony and authorized the Texas Attorney General to investigate suspected cases of vote harvesting. By passing SB1, Texas sought to safeguard the democratic process, protecting voters from outside interference and ensuring that ballots were cast freely and fairly.

This ruling disrupts those protections, stripping away the legal framework that Texas established to keep elections secure. With SB1 now largely unenforceable, Texas no longer has the tools to prevent vote harvesting or investigate potential abuses. The implications are far-reaching, particularly in light of past cases across the country where ballot harvesting has been tied to voter fraud.

The Problem of Ballot Harvesting

Ballot harvesting involves third parties collecting and submitting absentee or mail-in ballots on behalf of voters. This practice is often presented as a service to help voters who may face challenges in delivering their ballots, but it comes with serious risks. When ballots leave the hands of the voter and are handled by outside actors, the chain of custody breaks down, and the potential for manipulation increases. The fundamental concern is that ballots could be tampered with or discarded if they don’t align with the interests of the person collecting them.

Vulnerable populations are particularly at risk. Elderly voters, people with disabilities, and those less familiar with the voting process may not realize that they are being manipulated. In some cases, ballot harvesters can exert undue influence by encouraging voters to mark their ballots a certain way or by filling out ballots for them under the guise of “assistance.” This compromises the integrity of the voting process and creates opportunities for fraud.

Senate Bill 1 addressed these concerns by outlawing the practice of collecting ballots for compensation. The law was designed to ensure that each voter could cast their ballot without external pressure or interference, maintaining control over their vote from start to finish. Without SB1, the protections that Texas had put in place are gone, leaving voters exposed to the risks associated with ballot harvesting.

Documented Cases of Ballot Harvesting Fraud

The dangers of ballot harvesting are not hypothetical. Several documented cases across the country show how easily this practice can lead to fraud and election irregularities. In the North Carolina 9th Congressional District in 2018, McRae Dowless, a consultant for a Republican candidate, orchestrated a scheme where hundreds of absentee ballots were illegally harvested and manipulated. The results of the election were invalidated, and a new election was ordered due to the scale of the fraud.

In San Luis, Arizona, in 2020, the former mayor was sentenced for her involvement in a ballot harvesting operation during the primary election. Ballots were illegally collected and deposited on Election Day, raising questions about the legitimacy of the results.

San Antonio, Texas, saw its own scandal in 2020 when Rachel Rodriguez was arrested for election fraud after being caught on video harvesting ballots. Her actions, exposed by Project Veritas, demonstrated how easily vote harvesting could be abused to manipulate the mail-in ballot system. She now faces up to 20 years in prison for her role in the scheme.

In Weslaco, Texas, in 2013, former City Commissioner Guadalupe Rivera admitted to illegally assisting a voter, filling out their absentee ballot without the voter’s direction. Rivera’s actions led to a judge determining that 30 ballots had been cast illegally, resulting in a new election being ordered.

In Martin, Kentucky, in 2012, Mayor Ruth Robinson and her family were convicted of voter intimidation and vote buying. They coerced residents into voting for Robinson under threat of eviction, and a political operative illegally filled out absentee ballots for voters in exchange for jobs.

In Hialeah, Florida, in 1997, a massive absentee voter fraud operation involved ballot brokers who pressured voters, often elderly, into casting ballots under false pretenses. The fraud was so extensive that the election was overturned.

These cases are clear examples of how ballot harvesting undermines the integrity of elections. By allowing third parties to handle ballots without strict oversight, the opportunity for fraud increases, and voters’ rights are compromised.

Texas’ Fight for Sovereignty Over Elections

The ruling against Senate Bill 1 is more than a setback for Texas’ election security. It highlights the broader issue of federal interference in Texas’ ability to govern its own elections. States have the constitutional authority to regulate their electoral processes, and SB1 was a legitimate effort by Texas lawmakers to protect the state’s elections from fraud. Yet, this ruling undermines that authority, placing Texas’ election system at the mercy of federal courts.

The protections in SB1 were crucial to maintaining the integrity of Texas elections. By outlawing paid ballot harvesting, the state created a legal framework to ensure that voters could cast their ballots without fear of manipulation or coercion. With these protections now removed, Texas faces an uncertain future where the potential for fraud is significantly increased.

The Path Forward for Texas

This ruling underscores the critical need for Texas to assert its sovereignty over its own elections. The federal government’s constant interference in Texas’ election laws compromises the state’s ability to secure its democratic processes. Every time a federal court strikes down laws designed to protect our elections, it weakens the very foundation of our self-governance.

The reality is clear: the only way to stop federal overreach and truly secure our elections is for Texas to become a self-governing independent nation. As long as Texas remains tied to the United States, the federal government will continue to infringe on the state’s ability to pass and enforce laws that reflect the will of Texans. The federal judiciary will keep blocking measures that are necessary to protect our elections, leaving the door open for outside interference and weakening the integrity of the vote.

By becoming an independent nation, Texas will regain full control over its election laws, free from the dictates of distant federal courts. Independence will allow Texas to secure its elections with laws that reflect the values and needs of its people. Protecting voter integrity and ensuring that every ballot is counted as cast requires full sovereignty, and the path to that sovereignty is through TEXIT.

Texans understand the importance of preserving the sanctity of the vote. Only by reclaiming our independence can we ensure that our elections remain free from fraud and manipulation, and that every vote truly counts.