AUSTIN, TX – Jolt Initiative, a Latino grassroots civic engagement organization, today issued a strong condemnation of Texas Attorney General (AG) Ken Paxton’s latest attack: an unprecedented lawsuit seeking the dissolution of Jolt’s corporate charter through a Quo Warranto petition. In response, Jolt Initiative has filed a motion asking the Court to dismiss this meritless lawsuit, or transfer it to Houston, where Jolt is headquartered.  

The Attorney General’s quo warranto action retaliates against Jolt for its First Amendment activity, including the expression and association that is inherently part of voter registration drives. This legal action is a serious escalation and abuse of State power intended to intimidate and eliminate Jolt’s voter registration efforts. Jolt Initiative vows a vigorous defense of our organization’s mission to empower young Latino voters in Texas.

“The Attorney General is abusing his authority by using the state’s legal tool of dissolution, an extreme measure, against Jolt simply because we are effective at registering Latino voters,” said ⁨Jackie Bastard⁩, Executive Director of Jolt Initiative. “This is a systematic effort to dismantle the infrastructure of Latino civic engagement in Texas.”

“This action is part of the AG’s larger efforts to bully civic engagement organizations. Jolt is simply the latest target of his unlawful campaign to undermine and silence civil rights groups in Texas.” Mimi Marziani, Marziani, Stevens & Gonzalez PLLC added. “The AG’s claims, alleging Jolt Volunteer Deputy Registrars  (VDRs) engage in unlawful behavior, are based on allegations that have already been disproved by the plain language of election law and every ounce of available evidence.”

For instance, the State’s claims ignore the fact that VDRs are legally required to accept all completed forms, while the State itself holds the sole power to verify eligibility. 

“The freedom of speech and association guaranteed by our Constitution is critical to our democracy,” said Stacie Sanchez-Hare, Jolt Initiative Board Chair. “The AG’s attacks are unconstitutional and unlawful, and we are confident the legal precedent is on our side.” 

This new lawsuit  is nothing more than a scare tactic meant to impede Jolt’s voter registration efforts, subject the organization’s volunteers and voters it has registered to unnecessary scrutiny and isolate Jolt from its partners and the community it serves. Plus, it was filed in Tarrant County — far from Jolt’s headquarters in Houston – further showing that the State is simply trying to harass Jolt and chill its important work.  

“Fort Worth is a great place to visit, but it’s the wrong place under Texas law to file this frivolous lawsuit,” said Jason C.N. Smith, Law Offices of Jason Smith. “The Attorney General’s attempting to forum shop, yet again, because he can’t honestly win on the law or the facts.”

Jolt Initiative will not be silenced. We are fighting for the constitutional rights of young Latino voters and all Texas non-profits.  

View Jolt’s Initial Response Here.