AUSTIN, Texas — A $3 billion dementia research fund in Texas is temporarily on hold after three voters filed a lawsuit claiming the voting machines used in last month’s election were faulty.
The lawsuit was filed earlier this month in Travis County by Shannon Huggins, Lars Kuslich, and Jose Silvester against the Texas Secretary of State’s Office. Voters approved Proposition 14 with more than 68.5% of the vote, creating the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (DPRIT) to dedicate $3 billion over the next decade to address dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s disease.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R-Texas), a key supporter of the fund, criticized the lawsuit, saying the delay will impede critical research and harm the roughly 500,000 Texans affected by dementia and their families.
The three plaintiffs represent themselves and claim some voting machines were not properly certified under federal law. They are asking the court to annul the election results and call for a new vote.
Election experts dispute the claim. Natalia Contreras of Votebeat said Texas uses federally certified voting equipment, and the Secretary of State’s Office follows a multi-step certification process. She also questioned why the lawsuit challenges only Prop 14 and not the 16 other constitutional amendments approved in the same election.
Under Texas law, constitutional amendments cannot take effect while their election results face legal challenges, effectively freezing DPRIT’s funding. A new law, House Bill 16, would allow amendments to take effect despite challenges, but it does not become effective until December 4.
Proponents of Prop 14 argue the fund will advance dementia research and attract top scientific talent to Texas. Opponents have raised concerns about the state committing $3 billion in taxpayer funds.