Texas Officials Plead Not Guilty in Vote-Harvesting Case | JQJO

Nine individuals, including a former mayor, city council member, and a state representative's chief of staff, pleaded not guilty to felony vote-harvesting charges in Texas. The indictments, stemming from Attorney General Ken Paxton's election investigation, are criticized as politically motivated by Latino rights activists. Charges include providing compensation for collecting absentee ballots, a third-degree felony carrying a potential 10-year prison sentence. One defendant's attorney filed a motion to dismiss, arguing the statute is overly broad and violates First Amendment rights. The investigation, launched after the 2020 election, has led to increased scrutiny of Texas's tightened voter laws.