Attorney General (AG) Ken Paxton announced the creation of a body to ensure election integrity throughout the State of Texas on Monday, according to a press release issued by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG).
The 2022 General Election Integrity Team consists of agency lawyers, investigators and support staff whose main responsibility is to see that the current election season is run transparently and securely, the release said.
Monday was the first day of early voting, which will be conducted through Nov. 4, the last Friday before Election Day.
Per the OAG, the team serves as what it calls a “focused resource” to both election officials and the public.
It’s additionally tasked with fielding information on alleged Texas Election Code violations, the release said.
“The foundation of our constitutional republic is a secure and transparent ballot,” Paxton, a Republican seeking reelection in next month’s contests, said in the release. “It is why my office remains ever vigilant in defending the integrity of our elections. And it’s why I’m establishing a 2022 General Election Integrity Team.”
While the OAG has a year-round Election Integrity Division, the newly formed group’s sole focus is on the upcoming election.
According to the release, members of the public who suspect wrongdoing at the polls must email the 2022 General Election Integrity Team at electionintegrity2022@oag.texas.gov.
“My office is monitoring this account at all times, and we are prepared to take action against unlawful conduct where appropriate,” Paxton said.
Dr. Brandon Rottinghaus, a political science professor at the University of Houston (UH), told Austin NBC affiliate KXAN that the courts prevent the AG from unilaterally prosecuting election fraud cases, adding it’s the county district attorneys who do so.
“But that doesn’t mean that [Paxton] can’t collect information and serve as a resource for local officials who might ultimately then prosecute these kinds of cases,” Rottinghaus said, KXAN reported.