December 19, 2018

The Honorable Greg Abbott Governor of Texas RE: Secretary of State, Chief Elections Officer for Texas

Dear Governor Abbott:

Your appointment this week of David Whitley to fill the vacancy left by the

resignation of Rolando Pablos represents an important opportunity for you

to require a higher standard for the Office of Texas Secretary of State. As

citizen-initiated investigations continue to reveal escalating evidence of

voter fraud, process weaknesses, and what we consider to be rogue actions

by SOS employees who routinely ignore or thwart law by issuing waivers,

Texans are demanding that the Secretary of State protect our elections.

By law, the Secretary of State acts as the chief elections officer for the State

of Texas, assisting county election officials and ensuring the uniform

application and interpretation of election laws throughout Texas. We raise

this fact because it sometimes appears that the extra duties assigned by

executive order to the Texas Secretary of State – the more glamorous duties

of acting as senior advisor and liaison to the Governor for Texas Border and

Mexican Affairs and serving as Chief International Protocol Officer for Texas

– have become far more important than the constitutional role relating to

elections.

Since your first term in office, grassroots Texans have called on you to

promote and enact needed reforms to ensure election integrity. We note

that you’ve taken a strong public stance on fraud, and good election

integrity bills bear your signature. Thank you.

While your work to date is headed in the right direction, we’ve identified

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significant deficiencies that need to be addressed by the incoming Secretary

of State. Appointed by you and confirmed by the State Senate, the Texas

Secretary of State serves at your pleasure; therefore, we believe now is the

time for you to ensure your appointee is ready to proactively utilize the power

of the agency to support needed election security reforms during the 2019

legislative session and to faithfully carry out the election laws currently in

place.

Grassroots Texans concerned with election integrity and ballot security

continue to monitor the actions and progress of the Secretary of State’s office.

Below are the actions we believe the Secretary should immediately take to

protect the integrity of our elections:

● Have our statewide voter registration database, the Texas Election

Administration Management (TEAM) system, checked against

Department of Public Safety database records to ensure that non-

citizens are not registered to vote.

● Remove illegal voters by comparing registration records against the

DPS database so that only legal voters cast ballots in Texas elections.

● Utilize an interstate crosscheck to make sure voters are not registered

in multiple states. Texas Election Code (TEC) Section 18.062 instructs

the Secretary to opt into an interstate crosscheck program. The

Secretary must make use of one of the available interstate crosschecks

currently in place, the Electronic Registration Information Center, the

Interstate Crosscheck Program, or Kansas’ system. (Based on

information we’ve gathered, we have every reason to believe this

law is being ignored by the Secretary of State’s Office. If there are

persons who are dually registered to vote in Texas and another state,

and these persons have voted in Texas elections, this is just one more

way our constitutionally guaranteed civil rights are being violated.)

● Keep our voter rolls clear of voters who have moved, are deceased, or

are otherwise ineligible.

● Immediately end the practice of issuing waivers that suspend Texas

election laws. This practice violates the Texas Constitution Article 1,

Section 28, “No power of suspending laws in this State shall be

exercised except by the Legislature.” Stop the unconstitutional

waivers and ensure all counties uniformly:

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a) Print complete zero tapes directly prior to the opening of polls

for early voting and on Election Day – Tx Admin. Code Rule §

81.52(h).

b) Print complete results tapes/precinct returns directly when

polls close for early voting and on election day – Tx. Elec. Code §§

66.022(1), 66.023(1), and 66.024(1),

c) Perform post-election partial manual recounts – Tx. Elec. Code

127.01

d) Cease the use of internet connectivity for all computers used in

central counting stations where votes are being counted – Tx. Elec.

Code 129.054(a)

e) Sequentially number all ballots – Tx. Constitution and Elec.

Code 52.062.

Following the 2017 legislative session, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick

formed a Select Committee on Election Security to research election integrity

and to explore ways to ensure Texas’ elections are protected. The committee’s

report notes that in 2018, 97 cases of voter fraud have been prosecuted.

Additionally, there are 59 cases pending prosecution and 63 open

investigations.

We know that people are financing and executing vote-harvesting operations

in Texas. We know that non-citizens are voting in our elections.

We know unconstitutional waivers are being issued to counties so much so

that electronic vote tabulations are not secure. As such, it is unacceptable

for the incoming SOS to maintain the status quo on items listed above.

Governor Abbott, it makes no difference if Texas has strong laws on the books

if they are not enforced. You have an opportunity to protect our elections by

making sure the new Secretary of State will aggressively address the above

captioned issues and strengthen our election codes. When these and other

reforms are enacted, Texans will then be confident that our elections in Texas

are being executed fairly and accurately. You can count on all of us to support

you in this effort.

Sincerely, the undersigned Texas grassroots political leaders,*

Daniel Greer, Executive Director, Direct Action Texas

JoAnn Fleming, Executive Director, Grassroots America – We the People PAC

Laura Pressley, Ph.D., Founder, True Texas Elections LLC

C.R. "Dick" Saulsbury, Saulsbury Companies, SD 31

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Cathie Adams, 1st VP, National Eagle Forum; former Texas GOP State Chair

Sam Anderson, Flower Mound Area Republican Club

James Ashby, Tarrant County Republican Party, HD 92 Area Leader

LaDaune Ashley, Brazoria County Conservatives

Deborah Bailey, San Angelo TEA Party

Dottie Barnes, co-founder, Conservative Society of Navarro County

Anna Bartosh, Treasurer, San Angelo TEA Party

Annette Bennett, Fredericksburg Tea Party; Heritage Action Sentinel

Geri Bentley, Treasurer, Clear Lake Tea Party

Beth Biesel, leader, Park Cities Preston Hollow Leadership Forum

Bill Bingham, Vice President, Bryan/College Station Tea Party

Tammy Blair, past Cherokee County Republican Party Chairman, SD3

Elena Blake, President, Irving Republican Women

Joanna Bowen, Secretary, Lake Country Republican Club

Scott Bowen, Clear Lake TEA Party

Trayce Bradford, President, Texas Eagle Forum

Judy Brady, President, Central Texas TEA Party

Janie Brittain, Steering Committee Member, Garland Tea Party

Stephen Broden, Founder/President, Protect Life & Marriage Texas

KC Broyles, Vice President, Clear Lake Tea Party

Wes Brumit, Voices of Conservatism and Liberty PAC (VOCAL)

Dennis Cable, Precinct Chair, Smith County GOP; past SREC SD 1

Adam Cahn, Austin political blogger, Cahnman’s Musings

David Carter, Central Texas TEA Party; Bell County Election Judge, Prec. 311

Janice Carter, Chapter Leader, John Birch Society – Central Texas

Cindi Castilla, President, Dallas Eagle Forum

Janna Castloo, Chair, Wood County Republican Party

Ernie Clark, Past President, Grassroots America - We the People PAC

Della Clark, Charter Member, Grassroots America - We the People PAC

Stanley Cofer, Founder, Texas Minority Conservative & Republican Coalition

Dr. Dwayne Collins, Founder & Chairman, Edom TEA Party

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Craig Cosgray, President, Highland Lakes Tea Party

Bill Culpepper, GAWTP; Smith County GOP Executive Committee

Connie Curry, Founder, West Texas Conservative Leadership

John Derr, Delta County Tea Party

Nancy Dillard, President, Denton County Conservative Coalition

Don Dixon, longtime San Antonio transportation reform activist & blogger

Jim and Char Doonan, Lake Country Republicans, Wood County

Carol Doucet, co-founder, Conservative Society of Navarro County &

Navarro County TEA Party

Terri DuBose, former State GOP Executive Committeewoman, SD 19

Jack Dubose, Chairman, Real County Republican Party

Trevor Dupuy, Founder/Coordinator, Horseshoe Bay Conservative Caucus

Maria Espinoza, Co-Founder/National Director, The Remembrance Project

Sue Evenwel, State Republican Executive Committeewoman, SD 1; Chair,

Titus County GOP

Toni and Tom Fabry, Chairman and Treasurer, Frisco TEA Party

Dave and Mary Fallert, Steering committee, Kaufman County TEA Party

Davis Ford, 1st Vice-President, Central Texas TEA Party

Rebecca Forest, President, Women on the Wall

Rena and David French, Founder Patriot Members, Grassroots America –

We the People PAC

Bill Gallagher, Primadata Liberty Center, Mabank

Patty Gallagher, Primadata Liberty Center, Mabank

Gary Gentz, Henderson County Tea Party

Suezette Griffin, past President, Clear Lake TEA Party

Suzanne Guggenheim, President, Coastal Bend Tea Party

Terri Hall, Founder/Director, Texans Uniting for Reform & Freedom (TURF)

Barbara Harless, North Texas Citizens Lobby

Marilyn Harris, Grassroots America - We the People PAC

Joe Harrison, Founder and Organizer, Cass County Patriots

Carole Haynes, Ph.D., founder, Citizens Matter; education reformer

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Mary and Dale Huls, Past President; current Executive Board members,

Clear Lake TEA Party

Bill Hussey, Founder and Vice President, Llano TEA Party

Rick Jackson, Steering Committee, Kaufman County TEA Party

Joyce Jones, Board Member, Central Texas Tea Party

Robert Kecseg, State Republican Executive Committeeman, SD 1

Albert Kelln, Steering Committee Member, Llano Tea Party

Sandra Kindt, Washington County Republican Party Chairman; Washington

County TEA Party

Jackie King, Founder, Conservative Society of Navarro County

Michael Kinzie, Founder, TEAParty911.com

Rick Kirchhof, Steering Committee Member, Llano Tea Party

Larry Korkmas, Pres., Texans for Immigration Reduction & Enforcement (TFIRE)

Robin and Jim Lennon, President and Director, Kingwood TEA Party, Inc.

Craig Licciardi, Precinct Chair, Smith County Republican Party; Grassroots

America - We the People PAC

Matt Long, President, Fredericksburg TEA Party of Texas

Dr. Ivette Lozano, former President, Dallas County Republican Assembly

Karen Marsalis, President, Panola County Conservatives

William Marsalis, Past President, Panola County Conservatives

Maria Martinez, Houston Inner Loop Grassroots

Carroll Maxwell, Past President, Collin County Conservative Republicans

Julie McCarty, President, NE Tarrant TEA Party

Dennis McKee, PAC Treasurer, Kaufman County TEA Party

Stacy McMahan, Executive Director/President, East Texans for Liberty

Mark Metzger, Bexar County Tea Party

Cindy Meyer, Charter Member, McKinney Tea Party

Naomi Narvaiz, former State Republican Executive Committee, SD 21

Brian Newman, President, Collin Strong

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Don Nurdin, President, Pachyderm Club of Galveston Island

Michael Olcott, Co-founder, Parker County Conservatives

Marian Phillips, Southwest Dallas County Republican Club; SREC SD 23

Rene Poe, Vice President, Hood County Tea Party

Kathy Ponce, President, Freedom Tea Party Patriots

Eugene Ralph Sr., Game Chaingers

Mark Ramsey, State Republican Executive Committeeman, SD 7

Pastor Marty Reid, Grassroots America - We the People PAC

Fran Rhodes, Vice President NE Tarrant Tea Party

Jeanette Rhodes Kalk, Treasurer/Director, San Antonio TEA Party

Tanya Robertson, State Republican Executive Committeewoman, SD 11

Kat Rowoldt, Founder, Christian Reporter News

Barry Schlech, PhD, past President, Texas Patriots Tea Party

Josie D. Schoolcraft, President, Cherokee County Texas Republican Club

Bryan Slaton, Conservative Grassroots Coalition, SD 2

Mike Slaton, Precinct Chair, Dallas County Republican Party

Vicki Slaton, former (term limited) SREC SD 2; Grassroots Coalition SD 2

Jim Speiran, Past Board Member, Grassroots America - We the People PAC

Joel Starnes, Executive Director, Organization for American Values

Barb Stauffer, Steering Committee Member, Garland Tea Party

Heather Stoner, President, Smith County Republican Women

Penny Story, Founder Constitutional Conservative Activists

Dwayne Stovall, Director, Get Off My State LLC

Debbie Terry, State GOP Executive Committeewoman, Senate District 12

Kaaren Teuber, Coordinator, Texoma Patriots

Jim Thompson, Conservative Grassroots Coalition, SD 2

Pat Tibbs, President, Montgomery County TEA Party PAC

Bela Toth, Board Member, Pearland Tea Party

Mildred Toth, Board Member, Pearland Tea Party

Karl Voigtsberger, former State Republican Executive Committeeman, SD 8

Desiree Watts, Legislative Committee Chair, East Texans for Liberty

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Jimmy Weaver, Kaufman County Republican Party Chairman

SFC Walter West II (RET), State Republican Executive Committeeman, SD 4

Brady Whatley, Flower Mound Area Republican Club

Gary Whitehorn, We the People – Longview, SD 1

Maggie Wright, Founding member/past President, Texas Patriots TEA Party

Ruth York, Vice President, Tea Party Patriots of Eastland County

Pastor Greg Young, Nationally Syndicated Radio host, Chosen Generation

Rick Eisenbach, President, Grassroots America – We the People PAC

Jeremiah Hunter, Chairman, We the People – Longview, SD 1

Brendan Bagnell, President, Texas Patriots TEA Party

Note: There are 136 political opinion leaders signed on in support of

this message to Governor Abbott. They represent 100 unique

organizations and areas of influence across Texas.

The Texas Conservative Grassroots Coalition

is the premier project of Grassroots America We the People PAC.

Paid for by Grassroots America - We the People PAC.

*Organizations listed for

identification purposes only.