Texas AG asks state’s Supreme Court to turn down vote-by-mail applications related to COVID-19

File – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) is pictured. (Nick Wagner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 9:01 AM PT — Friday, May 15, 2020

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) filed a petition for multiple counties to be more strict when accepting absentee voter applications. He asked the state’s Supreme Court this week to turn down applications citing coronavirus fears as a way to receive a mail-in ballot.

Paxton argues that this is a misuse of the state’s disability requirements for absentee ballots. However, proponents of vote-by-mail said their approach follows guidelines previously set down by the court in a previous lawsuit. They are accusing Paxton of trying to disrupt the election process.

“I think that it’s very reasonable to believe that you have no immunity to the COVID virus,” said Douglas Ray, special assistant attorney for the Harris County Attorney’s Office. “Under these circumstances, you could conclude that it would potentially injure your health to vote in person.”

The unlawful expansion of mail-in voting will only serve to undermine the security of our elections.

Listen to Election Fraud Section Chief Jonathan White break down how mail-in voting can facilitate fraud & the impact that has on the democratic process.https://t.co/Zi5Hgx47zd

— Texas Attorney General (@TXAG) May 13, 2020

The state is currently appealing the lower court’s decision to lift the restrictions on absentee voting. Attorney General Paxton’s request is part of the growing fight surrounding mail-in voting during the coronavirus pandemic.

RELATED: Lawmakers on Capitol Hill feud over mail-in voting