WHEREAS, the Texas Constitution mandates the responsible use of taxpayer funds, ensuring that public monies are spent in a manner that is transparent, accountable, and in the best interest of Texas citizens; and
WHEREAS, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed separate lawsuits in October 2024 against Bexar and Travis Counties for engaging in the practice of hiring private companies to conduct voter registration efforts at the expense of local taxpayers; and
WHEREAS, the act of using taxpayer funds to pay private companies for voter registration services raises concerns about the proper use of public money, accountability, and the potential for partisan bias in voter registration activities; and
WHEREAS, counties, through their commissioners’ courts, have a responsibility to ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently and for purposes that directly benefit the public good; and
WHEREAS, voter registration is a fundamental civic duty and, as such, should be carried out in a non-partisan and transparent manner, ensuring the integrity of the election process and the fair and equal treatment of all eligible voters; and
WHEREAS, the use of taxpayer funds to pay private companies to conduct voter registration could lead to conflicts of interest and undermine the public’s trust in the fairness and impartiality of the electoral process; and
WHEREAS, taxpayers should not bear the financial burden of private organizations that may not operate in a manner consistent with the principles of non-partisan and fair election practices; and
WHEREAS, Senator Paul Bettencourt has pre-filed SB 511 and Representative Tom Oliverson has pre-filed the companion bill HB 1489 for the 89th Legislative Session to prohibit the use of public funds to facilitate the distribution, by a third party, of voter registration applications to persons who did not request them; now
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas urges the Texas Legislature to pass legislation that prohibits counties, through their commissioners’ courts, from expending taxpayer funds to pay private companies to register voters; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this legislation should ensure that voter registration activities are carried out directly by government entities in a manner that is transparent, impartial, and free from conflicts of interest; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas stands in support of efforts to protect the integrity of the Texas electoral process and ensure that public funds are used responsibly and for the benefit of all Texas taxpayers.
