On National Voter Registration Day, Travis County officials announced significant efforts to protect voter registration rights amid legal challenges from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. The county has initiated a program to identify and register eligible voters, mailing out voter registration applications as mandated by the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA). This initiative aims to enhance voter participation in the upcoming November elections, countering Paxton's attempts to halt these efforts.

Travis County leaders, including County Attorney Delia Garza, emphasized that their actions are not only lawful but encouraged by federal law. They filed a federal complaint against Paxton, seeking to affirm their right to register voters and challenge the attorney general's lawsuit aimed at stopping their outreach efforts. Garza criticized the attorney general for undermining local government initiatives designed to facilitate voter registration, stating, \"The law not only allows this type of activity, it encourages it.\"

The meeting highlighted the broader context of voter registration in Texas, which has some of the strictest laws in the nation, lacking online registration and facing logistical barriers that hinder eligible voters. Officials pointed out that Texas ranks low in voter registration and turnout, with many eligible citizens facing challenges in accessing registration forms.

Travis County officials reiterated their commitment to ensuring that all eligible voters can participate in the democratic process, framing their fight as essential to preserving the integrity of elections in Texas. They expressed determination to continue their outreach efforts despite the legal obstacles posed by the state government, asserting that every eligible citizen deserves the opportunity to vote without fear of reprisal.