Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton acknowledged Tuesday that his office's investigation into alleged felon voting in Harris County will not conclude before the final ballots are cast, even as he defended the arrests his office announced over the weekend.
Paxton, who is simultaneously running for the U.S. Senate as a Republican, told Fox News that the inquiry remains active and that voters should take away a simple message: his office is on the case.
"We'll be pursuing this, it won't be resolved by the time the election is over, but at least people will know that my office took care of election issues that were fraudulent or people voting that shouldn't be voting," Paxton said.
The attorney general's office said Saturday that it had arrested an undisclosed number of convicted felons who allegedly voted in the midterm elections. The probe was triggered by a citizen complaint that included "open-source" material backing the allegation, according to Paxton's office. Working with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, investigators confirmed the individuals' criminal status and made the arrests.
Paxton said his Election Integrity Unit is "actively investigating additional reports of election crimes" and pledged to "continue working to protect the lawful votes of Texans."
Under Texas law, a convicted felon may vote only after completing the full sentence, including any parole or probation term. A local outlet reported Monday that two men had been taken into custody and confirmed they were still on active probation, making them ineligible under state rules. Nationally, the rules vary widely: felons never lose voting rights in two states plus D.C. and Puerto Rico; 24 states and territories restore the right upon release from prison; 15 allow it after parole or probation ends; and 13 either permanently bar felons or require them to finish their sentence and apply for restoration.
The timing of the announcement—just days before polls close—has drawn scrutiny, particularly given Paxton's own name on the ballot. His dual role as the state's top law enforcement officer and a candidate has amplified questions about how the investigation is being handled. Similar concerns have surfaced in other states, where voting machine glitches and threats against election offices have already complicated an already tense midterm cycle.
Paxton's office did not specify how many people were arrested or provide names, citing the ongoing investigation. The lack of detail has left local officials and voting rights advocates seeking more information as they brace for potential challenges to results.
Legal experts note that prosecuting voter fraud cases can take months, and Paxton himself conceded the timeline would stretch beyond Election Day. For now, his office says the work continues, with more possible charges to follow.
"My Election Integrity Unit is actively investigating additional reports of election crimes," Paxton said in a statement. "We will continue working to protect the lawful votes of Texans."
