Attorney General Ken Paxton today released the following statement after a jury in Tarrant County convicted Rosa Maria Ortega, a Mexican national, of illegal voting by a non-citizen and sentenced her to eight years in prison along with a $5,000 fine:
“This case shows how serious Texas is about keeping its elections secure, and the outcome sends a message that violators of the state’s election law will be prosecuted to the fullest,” Attorney General Paxton said. “Safeguarding the integrity of our elections is essential to preserving our democracy.”
During her trial, it was revealed that Ortega falsely claimed U.S. citizenship on a voter registration form in Dallas County and then cast ballots five times between 2004 and 2014. Evidence was presented showing that she attempted to register in Tarrant County, but election officials rejected her application after she admitted she was a non-citizen.
Attorney General Paxton and the Tarrant County District Attorney’s office jointly prosecuted the illegal voting case.