Bill > HB3774

This bill modifies Texas election law regarding signature verification committees and mail-in ballot procedures, making several key changes to the election code. The bill establishes more detailed requirements for signature verification committees, including a specific oath that members must take, which emphasizes objectivity and the duty to count eligible voters' ballots. It expands the ways election officials can notify voters about ballot defects, such as allowing notification by email and providing more options for voters to correct issues with their mail-in ballots. The bill changes the timeline for delivering mail-in ballots, extending the deadline from the 9th to the 11th day before election day. It also requires that the signature verification committee have an odd number of members, with equal representation from different political parties, and specifies that committee members cannot simultaneously serve on an early voting ballot board. The bill adds provisions for how signatures are verified, including that the committee chair can only vote to break ties and that both political parties must be equally represented during signature verification decisions. Additionally, the bill includes new requirements for identification and documentation of committee members' work, such as signed and dated notes and prescribed identification forms. These changes are set to take effect for elections ordered on or after September 1, 2025, with the goal of improving the transparency and consistency of mail-in ballot verification processes.

Government Affairs

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB3774