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Please note!
This fact brief was originally published as an experiment to test the concepts behind fact briefs.
Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of useful information in fact briefs like this one, not all of them reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.

Do campaign-finance rules permit a Texas state official to offer a reward for evidence of voter fraud?

By Austin Tannenbaum
YES

There is no law that explicitly prohibits Texas public officials from offering a reward for a legal act such as providing evidence of voter fraud.

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick was within his legal rights to offer a reward for information about the November general election, and to make it as large as he wants. Patrick is not coordinating his activity with a campaign and is therefore not subject to political contribution limits.

The legality of the reward offer is contingent upon it being paid out from Patrick's private earnings. Texas's election code restricts the use of campaign funds for "personal use," which is defined as "a use that primarily furthers individual or family purposes not connected with the performance of duties or activities as a candidate for or holder of a public office."

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
Between 2020 and 2022, under close editorial supervision, Gigafact contracted a group of freelance writers and editors to test the concepts for fact briefs and provide inputs to our software development process. We call this effort Gigafact Foundry. Over the course of these two years, Gigafact Foundry writers published over 1500 fact briefs in response to claims they found online. Their important work forms the basis of Gigafact formats and editorial guidelines, and is available to the public on Gigafact.org. Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of relevant information to be found, not all fact briefs produced by Gigafact Foundry reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date and need to be looked at with fresh eyes, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.
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