AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against the Jolt Initiative, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing Latino civic participation, alleging it ran an “unlawful voter registration scheme.” The suit, filed October 23 in Tarrant County, seeks to dissolve the organization. Jolt has denounced the case as “meritless,” calling it a politically motivated attempt to silence Latino voters.
The lawsuit stems from an undercover investigation launched after a 2024 claim by Fox News host Maria Bartiromo, who falsely alleged that migrants were being registered to vote outside driver’s license facilities. Local officials refuted her post, but Paxton’s office pursued inquiries into Jolt and similar groups. His new filing accuses a Jolt volunteer of improperly advising an undercover agent about registering a nonpresent “daughter” to vote. Jolt disputes any wrongdoing, citing state law that allows parents to assist dependents with registration under certain conditions.
Paxton provided no evidence of noncitizen voting by Jolt members but argued the group’s activity near DMV locations showed “unlawful intent.” Jolt’s attorneys say the case should be transferred to Harris County and dismissed, accusing Paxton of “abusing his authority” to intimidate civil rights organizations. Ballot access groups across Texas have condemned the lawsuit as part of a broader campaign to suppress Latino voter engagement.
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