Bill > SB420

This bill creates a new legal provision that empowers the Texas Secretary of State to order a new election in counties with populations of 2.7 million or more under specific circumstances related to ballot shortages. Specifically, the Secretary of State can mandate a new election if they have good cause to believe that at least two percent of polling places in the county ran out of usable ballots during voting hours and did not receive supplemental ballots within one or more hours after requesting additional supplies from the responsible distribution authority. When ordering such a new election, the Secretary of State will have the same procedural authority as a district court under existing election law, and the expenses for the new election will be paid from the same fund and by the same authority that covered the original election. The bill will apply only to elections ordered on or after its effective date of September 1, 2025, and appears designed to address potential voting disruptions in large, populous counties by providing a clear mechanism for addressing significant ballot supply issues that could impede voters' ability to cast their ballots.

Government Affairs

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=SB420