UPDATE: Deputy Registrar Terminated Amid Voter Fraud Investigation at West Texas Fair

ABILENE, TX — A Taylor County Appointed Volunteer Deputy Registrar has been terminated following allegations of attempting to register a minor at the West Texas Fair and Rodeo, according to Freda Ragan, Elections Administrator for Taylor County.

The Abilene Police Department is investigating the incident, which was reported by a citizen earlier this week.

Ragan stated that her office is fully cooperating with law enforcement and has taken steps to ensure the integrity of the November 2024 election.

The Registrar in question will no longer be involved in any election processes, and Ragan emphasized that all voter applications undergo thorough vetting to ensure compliance with state laws.

No charges have been filed as the investigation continues.

Here's the full release: 

The Taylor County Elections Office has been made aware of an investigation concerning allegations of an Appointed Volunteer Deputy Registrar allegedly attempting to register a minor under the age of 18 to vote. The Taylor County Elections Office is cooperating fully with local Law Enforcement regarding the investigation.

I, as the Elections Administrator for Taylor County, am personally reviewing and vetting every application received in my Office from individuals attempting to register to vote to ensure that these applications are lawful. This is standard practice in my Office.

After my vetting process is complete, I then send these applications to the Secretary of State for further vetting where the Secretary of State uses Federal and State Records to verify that applications are true and correct and that someone is legally allowed to vote before their application is approved. Only after both steps are completed, is a voter added to the State Voter Rolls.

While this investigation is underway, I have terminated the appointment of the individual being investigated as an Appointed Volunteer Deputy Registrar. This individual will also not be involved with the election process in November 2024 that my Office is charged with conducting.

While individuals are presumed innocent unless convicted in a Court of Law, in light of the ongoing investigation and as a necessary precaution, I have taken these steps so that the Citizens of Taylor County can rest assured in the integrity of the November 2024 Election.