Former Texas Congressman Francisco "Quico" Canseco will lead the Texas Public Policy Foundation's (TPPF) new election integrity initiative.

Canseco is an American attorney, businessman and former U.S. Representative for Texas' 23rd Congressional District in the 112th United States Congress. During his first year in Congress, he delivered the Spanish-language State of the Union response. He's also a first-generation American and native of Laredo.

The TPPF launched the Election Integrity Project earlier this month to ensure every American citizen is afforded their right to vote and that public policy secures the reliability and integrity of our election system.

The Project focuses on educating the public about ballot safety through these general principles:

• Voters should understand their rights and the rules of voting, whether at the ballot box or voting by mail.
• Voters should not be intimidated into voting for someone they do not believe in.
• The voting system should preserve the integrity and safety of each ballot.

Here is the short interview Texas Lawyer had with Canseco:

TL: Why is this an important project?

Canseco: The Election Integrity Project protects our individual rights and constitutional guarantees by assuring votes are honest, results are reliable, and elections processes and procedures are trustworthy. Egregious abuses of the vote take away our voice and pervert our democracy. Those who benefit from obvious abuse discount and deny the mere possibility of dishonesty, camouflaging their opposition with social issues.

TL: How will this affect voters?

Canseco: Election integrity will yield confidence in the electorate by assuring that their votes will be correctly counted, their voices will be heard, and that the will of the people will prevail. It will assure that those who seek to cast illegitimate votes will be identified and removed. In doing so, Texas will help assure that our nation does not go the way of so many corrupt elections across the world.

TL: What should voters be thinking about before they vote?

Canseco: Voters should consider and then prioritize the positions they expect from their elected representatives. Every voter should have the opportunity to learn the positions of candidates in order to measure their values to those of the candidate. Voters should relish their individual sovereignty recognizing it as a unique and constitutionally protected right.

TL: What questions should they be asking themselves if they're trying to decide who to vote for?

Canseco: Voters should ask themselves how closely a candidate's view aligns with their own value system. Recognizing that a perfect match is unlikely, voters should consider whether their top priorities correspond. Voters should ask themselves if a candidates' behavior supports position statements and if their character and judgement are poised for leadership. Finally, voters should evaluate the candidates' understanding that they are ultimately servants of the people who elect them to office.