Texas state authorities have filed a lawsuit against the Harris County clerk and the office’s communications director, alleging that voter awareness advertisements on social media violate state constitutional equal rights protections by targeting specific racial and ethnic audiences.
The litigation, initiated Thursday by the Texas Attorney General’s Office, centers on a digital advertising campaign run by the Harris County Elections Department across Facebook and Instagram. The ads, which urge residents to “Plan. Check. Vote!” ahead of the general election, reportedly utilized targeted parameters such as “African-American history,” “Hispanic kitchen,” and “Latin dance” to reach African American, Asian, and Latino residents while omitting other populations.
According to court filings submitted Oct. 29, the county invested an estimated $43,429 into these targeted social media placements over a 30-day period. State officials argue that tailoring public service outreach to specific demographic groups rather than the broader electorate runs afoul of equal rights guarantees under the Texas Constitution.
In response to the filing, the state is pursuing an emergency court order seeking a temporary restraining order. This action would compel Harris County to immediately deactivate the contested advertisements or strip out the racial and ethnic targeting criteria. Furthermore, prosecutors are asking the court for temporary and permanent injunctions to block similar advertising strategies in the future.
The legal challenge arrives at the tail end of the election cycle, coinciding with the conclusion of early voting on Friday, Oct. 30, ahead of Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
State records indicate that Attorney General Ken Paxton recused himself from the litigation because he is a candidate in the midterm election cycle, running against Democrat James Talarico for the U.S. Senate. Representatives for the Harris County Clerk’s Office were contacted for comment regarding the allegations.
