Bexar County commissioners approve measure to mail out voter registration forms

SAN ANTONIO — Bexar County Commissioners approved a measure Tuesday to get thousands of people registered to vote that was the subject of lawsuit threats from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Resolution 66 would fund a contract with the company Civic Government Solutions to mail out voter registration forms. The forms would be sent out along with postage paid return envelopes “to unregistered voters in location(s) based on targeting agreed to by the county.”

In a letter to commissioners Monday, Paxton threatened to sue Bexar County if the measure passed, saying it would cause confusion if the materials were sent to those not eligible to vote.

“At worst, it may induce the commission of a crime by encourage individuals who are ineligible to vote to provide false information on the form,” Paxton said in the letter. “Either way, it is illegal, and if you move forward with this proposal, I will use all available legal means to stop you.”

In order to be eligible to vote in Texas, residents must be a U.S. citizen; live in the county where they applied to register to vote; and be at least 18 years old on Election Day. Convicted felons aren’t allowed to vote until they have completed their sentence and any probation periods, nor can those deemed by a court to be mentally incapacitated register. 

During Tuesday Commissioners Court meeting, dozens of people spoke out against the measure, calling it “a partisan project.” Ultimately, the commissioners did vote to approve the action.

It isn’t clear which areas of the county the measure would target, or who exactly would receive the forms. The agenda items says the action would be an exemption to the Texas County Purchasing Act, which requires county governments to engage in a competitive bidding process for expenditures of more than $50,000. 

See the full text of resolution 66 from the Commissioners Court agenda below: 

66. Discussion and appropriate action regarding granting a discretionary exemption to the competitive bidding requirements set forth in the Texas County Purchasing Act for the 2 purpose of awarding a purchase order to Civic Government Solutions, LLC to print and mail State Voter Registration Forms, with postage paid return envelopes, to unregistered voters in location(s) based on targeting agreed to by the County, to include data and reporting in the amount of $392,700, on a discretionary exemption basis, in accordance with Texas Local Government Code § 262.024(7)(a), as requested by Commissioners Court; and authorizing the Purchasing Agent to execute contract and file the appropriate award documents for record.