Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced the arrests of convicted felons accused of illegally casting ballots in the 2026 election, following an investigation by the Attorney General's Election Integrity Unit (EIU).
According to the Attorney General's Office, the investigation began October 27 after a citizen reported that convicted felons who were incarcerated, on parole, or on probation had allegedly voted in Harris County. The citizen provided publicly available information to support the allegations.
EIU investigators reviewed voter registration records, verified the individuals' identities, and examined whether they had cast ballots in the 2026 election. The office then referred identified individuals to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to confirm their criminal justice status.
The Attorney General's Office said TDCJ confirmed that multiple individuals were on parole when they voted, making them ineligible under Texas law.
"Today, my office arrested convicted felons for voting illegally in Texas. My Election Integrity Unit is actively investigating additional reports of election crimes," said Paxton. "We will continue working to protect the lawful votes of Texans."
Where were the arrests made?
Arrest warrants were issued October 30 in Montgomery County for individuals identified in the investigation, according to Paxton's office. Officers with the Attorney General's Office subsequently arrested them.
The announcement did not specify the number of individuals arrested, their names, or the charges filed against each person.
What happens next?
The Attorney General's Office said the Election Integrity Unit will continue investigating additional allegations of illegal voting.
The arrests are part of the office's ongoing election-crime investigations. Paxton's office said it remains committed to ensuring Texas elections are "free and fair."
