What Is Vote Harvesting? 6 Officials Indicted in Texas AG Ken Paxton’s Fraud Probe

Six individuals in rural Frio County, Texas — including two Pearsall City Council members and a school board trustee — were indicted on felony charges stemming from a growing election fraud investigation led by Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Why It Matters

The case, criticized by Latino civil rights advocates as politically motivated, adds weight to an inquiry that has drawn scrutiny for its aggressive tactics.

What to Know

Announced on May 1, the indictments include Frio County Judge Rochelle Camacho, Pearsall City Council members Ramiro Trevino and Racheal Garza, Pearsall ISD Trustee Adriann Ramirez, former Frio County Elections Administrator Carlos Segura, and resident Rosa Rodriguez.

Ken Paxton in court — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton appears at a pretrial hearing in his securities fraud case before state District Judge Andrea Beall, Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at Harris County Criminal Courts at Law in Houston.

Associated Press

Most of the accused face felony charges for “vote harvesting,” a Texas offense that involves collecting and submitting other people’s absentee ballots, often for payment. Several defendants allegedly used Cash App for these transactions. Segura faces a separate charge of tampering with evidence.

The investigation gained attention last year after state agents raided the homes of Latino campaign workers near San Antonio, including an 87-year-old woman. None of those individuals have been charged.

The indictments followed accusations by Mary Moore, Camacho’s opponent in the March 2022 Democratic primary. According to affidavits, Moore claimed Camacho employed a woman who had been collecting ballots in Frio County for nearly 30 years, charging candidates between $1,500 and $2,500 for services including collecting ballots and transporting voters.

Court documents indicate Camacho and Ramirez — identified as sisters — targeted elderly residents in a Pearsall subdivision in October 2022. The woman allegedly smuggled ballots under her shirt and switched vehicles to avoid detection. Investigators allege Segura shared information on ballot mailing and delivery schedules with her.

A federal appeals court upheld Texas’s stricter voting laws last year, reinforcing penalties that critics argue suppress minority voter turnout.

What People Are Saying

Paxton said, “The people of Texas deserve fair and honest elections, not backroom deals and political insiders rigging the system. Elected officials who think they can cheat to stay in power will be held accountable.”

Segura dismissed the charges, telling the Associated Press, “The only word I have right now is that it’s ridiculous,” adding that he was advised not to comment further.

The other defendants did not respond to requests for comment to the AP.

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), whose members were affected by the raids, previously called for a federal investigation into the state’s actions:

Gabriel Rosales, LULAC’s Texas director, previously said, “This is voter suppression 101. There’s no vote harvesting going on. There’s nobody creating these ballots. That’s a lie.”