Criminalize Voting

Let me remind folks that SB 1 was the GOP’s racist voter suppression measure that was a response to increased voting in Harris County. It should come as no surprise to hear that arsehole Gov. Greg Abbott and the loser Harris County GOP now want to criminalize voting here.

See this from the Chron today:

Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg is launching an investigation into “alleged irregularities” during last week’s election after receiving a referral from the Texas Secretary of State’s office. 

Ogg sent a letter to Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steven McCraw asking for the Texas Rangers’ assistance on Monday, the same day Gov. Greg Abbott called for an investigation and the Harris County Republican Party filed a lawsuit accusing Elections Administrator Cliff Tatum and the county of numerous violations of the Texas Election Code.

Ogg in a statement said her office is statutorily required to investigate and the results of the investigation will be turned over to a Harris County grand jury.

“It is my duty as the elected district attorney to follow the evidence and follow the law, and I will,” Ogg said.

And this:

Ogg, who is a Democrat, faced criticism from her party after the investigation became public Wednesday.

“With DA Ogg following in the footsteps of Gov. Abbott, Attorney General Ken Paxton, and the (Harris County Republican Party), she is enabling election deniers and QAnon conspiracy theorists,” Harris County Democratic Party Chair Odus Evbagharu said. “We cannot be helping amplify false rhetoric in the battle to preserve our democracy, freedom, and rights.”

And finally, this:

David Becker, executive director of the nonpartisan Center for Election Innovation and Research, agreed the allegations in Harris County describe ordinary issues experienced during elections and said it is unlikely investigators will be able to demonstrate criminal conduct took place in administering last week’s election.

“In most criminal cases, you need to prove intent to commit the act that was allegedly criminal, and they’re going to have to find some intent there,” Becker said. “Odds are, they’re going to have a very hard time with that.” 

It is kind of sad to see the Harris County DA bite on this. Oh, well.

Commentary has said before that I support an Elections Administrator in Harris County.  The creation and rollout of the Elections Administrator Office has had its well documented problems.  I said yesterday it was stumbling and bumbling.

The Texas GOP for years have made false claims about voter fraud.  Now they are focusing attention on Harris County.  You and I know they are not going to find anything.  All they want to do is chill the political climate, scare away election workers, and discourage voter participation in the future. This is straight out of the racist GOP playbook.

Commentary has been working campaigns in Texas longer than most folks.  There isn’t anything criminal going on with the folks running our elections here in Harris County. There are a lot of people involved with our elections. I think we would know if crooks were in the mix.

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Justin Verlander won the AL Cy Young Award yesterday. He is a free agent. If he wants another World Series ring, he will sign with the Astros.