In Frio County, Texas, six local officials—including a Democrat judge, school board member, and city council members—have been indicted for allegedly running a ballot-harvesting operation.
The charges come after a multi-year investigation led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, and they shine a harsh light on how local politics can be manipulated when bad actors get a little too cozy with power—and a little too creative with Venmo.
What They’re Accused Of
According to court documents and reporting by KSAT Investigates, the officials are accused of illegally compensating people to collect mail-in ballots, using gas money, lunches, job offers, and even payment apps like Cash App and Venmo.
The charges fall under Texas’s Senate Bill 1, passed in 2021, which makes it a felony to collect ballots for pay unless you’re a caregiver or household member of the voter.
There’s no direct evidence—yet—that they paid for people to vote a specific way, but paying to collect ballots is illegal in Texas, period.
That’s what led to the indictments.
What Is Ballot Harvesting, Anyway?
In most states, dropping off someone else’s ballot is perfectly legal—if done the right way.
It’s called ballot collection, and over half of U.S. states allow it. The idea is to help voters who can’t easily get to the polls—like the elderly or disabled.
But Texas? Texas plays by stricter rules.
Thanks to SB1, it’s illegal to collect or deliver someone else’s ballot in exchange for anything of value—money, food, rides, you name it.
Violators can face felony charges, which is exactly what we’re seeing unfold in Frio County.
Critics Cry Foul
Not surprisingly, groups like LULAC are blasting the investigation, claiming it unfairly targeted Latino communities.
They say the raids were aggressive, that authorities seized personal items from elderly residents, and that the whole thing smacks of voter suppression.
But Paxton’s office says it’s not about race—it’s about election integrity.
And it’s not a new talking point: he’s long argued that loose rules around ballot collection open the door to abuse, especially in tight local elections.
Is Fraud Real or Rare?
Some outlets say election fraud with mail-in ballots is rare and wouldn’t sway national elections.
Fair enough. But this case wasn’t about swinging a presidential vote.
It was about local officials allegedly exploiting the system for their own benefit, and possibly influencing vulnerable voters along the way.
Because while ballot collection may be legal in other states, Texas law is crystal clear: if you’re getting paid to harvest ballots—and you’re not a caregiver or household member—you’re breaking the law.
These weren’t confused volunteers. These were elected officials who knew the rules and broke them anyway, and now they’re being held accountable.
Helping elderly or disabled voters cast their ballots is absolutely fine—in fact, it’s important. But the law still matters, especially when the people bending it are the very ones sworn to uphold it.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
