Austin American-Statesman: Texas’ top elections official, Secretary of State John Scott, to step down

Texas Secretary of State John Scott says he will resign from his role as the state’s top elections official at the end of the year.

He announced the decision Monday in a letter to Gov. Greg Abbott, who appointed Scott to the position in October 2021. …

Scott’s resignation comes a month before the start of the legislative session, when the Texas Senate would have considered whether to keep him. The next secretary of state, like Scott and Ruth Hughs before him, will be appointed to the position by Abbott without a Senate confirmation.

On Monday, a voter activist group called on Abbott to recommend a nominee quickly enough for the Senate to hold nomination and confirmation hearings.

“Confirmation hearings are how we’re supposed to have some assurance that the person in charge of elections in Texas is qualified to do that job,” said Katya Ehresman, program manager for Common Cause Texas Voting Rights. “We should all be deeply alarmed by the fact that this is the third person to serve as secretary of state without having ever been confirmed by the Texas Senate. An office of this caliber should not continue to be filled by an unconfirmed and unelected official.”