Gov. Greg Abbott blames DPS for voter roll snafu. But the story behind the citizenship review is complicated.
A miscommunication and an ignored warning led to the questioning of thousands of citizens' voting rights. Full Story
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Alexa Ura
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Alexa Ura reported for The Texas Tribune from 2013 to 2023. She covered the complex dynamics of race, ethnicity, wealth, poverty and power and how they are shaping the future of Texas and Texans, in the long and short term. Alexa started at the Tribune as a reporting intern before graduating from the University of Texas at Austin and joining the staff full time. Originally from Laredo on the Texas-Mexico border, she is a native Spanish speaker and is based in Austin.
Past Contributions
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![Governor Greg Abbott in the Governor’s mansion. Jan. 8, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune. -
"This relationship is in tatters": How Texas' voter citizenship review frayed its relationship with local officials
A breakdown in communication has emerged between the state’s top election officials and county election offices since the citizenship review effort launched four weeks ago. Full Story
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![Ballot-by-mail clerk Chaundra Grattan organizes ballot packages at the Travis County Elections Division in Austin on May 19, 2014.]()
Credit: Charlie Pearce for The Texas Tribune -
All 12 Senate Democrats oppose Texas Secretary of State David Whitley. That's more than enough to block his nomination.
If all 12 lawmakers are on the Senate floor when Whitley's nomination comes, he doesn't have the votes to be confirmed. Full Story
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![Texas Secretary of State David Whitley at a state Senate Committee on Nominations hearing on Feb. 7, 2019. Whitley was appointed to the job by Gov. Greg Abbott, but Whitley must first clear the committee, then win a two-thirds vote in the full Texas Senate.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune -
Eight Texas counties agree to halt voter citizenship reviews while lawsuits proceed
The counties sent certain voters letters demanding that they prove their citizenship after they were flagged by the secretary of state's office. Full Story
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![Voters cast their ballots in midterm elections in Houston on Tuesday Nov. 6, 2018.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Opposition to Texas Secretary of State David Whitley’s nomination mounts, imperiling his future in the job
For the second week in a row, the Senate Nominations Committee failed to bring Whitley up for a vote. And he's gained a new public adversary: the leader of the Senate Democratic Caucus. Full Story
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![Texas Secretary of State David Whitley at a state Senate Committee on Nominations hearing on Feb. 7, 2019. Whitley was appointed to the job by Gov. Greg Abbott, but Whitley must first clear the committee, then win a two-thirds vote in the full Texas Senate.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
State lawyers defend handling of Texas voter citizenship review, suggest some county officials broke the law
An assistant attorney general said counties should have reviewed their lists of flagged voters to determine whether they had reason to believe the voters were ineligible before requiring them to prove their citizenship. Full Story
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![Early voters line up to cast their ballot at the LBJ Student Center at Texas State University in San Marcos on Friday, Nov. 2, 2018.]()
Credit: Mikala Compton for The Texas Tribune -
Texas secretary of state apologizes for how he rolled out voter citizenship review. But he still supports the effort.
In a letter sent to lawmakers late Wednesday, David Whitley said he's sorry for the way he launched the review efforts but appeared not to be backing down from continuing the review. Full Story
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![Texas Secretary of State David Whitley at a state Senate Committee on Nominations hearing on Feb. 7, 2019. Whitley was appointed to the job by Gov. Greg Abbott, but Whitley must first clear the committee, then win a two-thirds vote in the full Texas Senate.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune -
The AG's office told lawmakers it isn’t investigating voters on Texas’ citizenship review list. It told a local official the opposite.
A Paxton deputy told a Guadalupe County official Feb. 1 that the attorney general's office "has pending criminal investigations related to these issues." Full Story
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![Attorney General Ken Paxton walked across the Supreme Court plaza to hold a press conference in 2016.]()
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Texas AG Ken Paxton says his office hasn't launched criminal investigations of voters flagged for citizenship review
Some lawmakers had fretted that sending the preliminary, faulty list to the state's top prosecutor would intimidate voters. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks to gun owners at the Republican Party of Texas convention in San Antonio on June 15, 2018.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Secretary of State David Whitley defends releasing flawed data about voter citizenship review
At his confirmation hearing, Whitley faced tough questioning from Democrats over his decision to erroneously question the citizenship status of tens of thousands of voters. Full Story
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![Texas Secretary of State David Whitley attended a hearing with the Senate Committee on Nominations on Thursday. Gov. Greg Abbott appointed Whitley, but he must clear the committee and win a two-thirds vote in the full Texas Senate to keep his job.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune