Texas counties are suing the government for trying to link anti-terror money to election security policies.

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El Paso County and Harris County filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security on Monday, along with other counties in Tennessee and Ohio, alleging new federal grant needs violate poll safety and public health.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency made the announcement in June that it would withdraw 20 % of the funds from the Homeland Security Grant Program from local authorities unless donors met five requirements. Voting machines that accept Scan and bar codes must now take paper ballots, conduct regular vote audits, and register voters using DHS’s Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements system, or SAVE system, as a result.

The Trump administration has still pushed for the use of the Protect technique despite repeated accusations that it misidentifies electors as noncitizens. Texas ‘ Secretary of State’s Office issued a directive to state officials in late July to restore some of the 2, 724 registered voters who had been identified by the SAVE method as potential noncitizens.

The suing counties and cities argued in their petition that implementing the needs would cost millions of dollars and make their votes less secure, while putting around$ 200 million in grant money at risk nationally.

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The lawsuit read,” Plains must spend employees time and budgetary resources, and doing so in the hurried way that the federal government wants will erode the good administration of elections.”

The lawsuit specifically points out that a change to paper ballots may cause election officials to violate state laws, which requires counties to complete counting normal ballots within 24 hours of the polls closing.

Through FEMA, cities and counties have used the DHS offer to provide funding for terrorist attacks and other safety risks for years. Additionally, the counties argued that withholding funds could undermine the health of towns that rely on grant-provided, professional coaching and supplies.

El Paso County Attorney Christina Sanchez stated in a statement that “local election offices now face some of the toughest monitoring and requirements designed to keep their businesses safe and secure.” Our law enforcement agencies rely on this money to purchase essential equipment that helps guard and save lives, while imposing further requirements is both expensive and costly.

Additionally, the lawsuit contends that without parliamentary approval, DHS has the authority to impose conditions on grant funds on changes to the regional election process. A coalition of Democratic says filed a similar lawsuit in July over DHS requirements and other issues in response to Monday’s processing.

A FEMA spokesperson stated in a statement that concerns over election security “made it apparent that action is required” and that “partisan” opposition to the demands was anticipated.

” We completely anticipated opposition to common-sense measures intended to safeguard the dignity of American democracy and protect vote security,” the statement said.

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Since 2023, DHS has mandated that federal grant recipients explain how they will apply money for election security, but the lawsuit specifically forbids changes to the consumers ‘ election procedures. The case was filed in District of Columbia federal district court.

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Aug 17, 2026Hill Country Post

Texas counties are suing the government for trying to link anti-terror money to election security policies.

Hill Country Post

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