Bill > HB4842

This bill makes several modifications to the Texas Election Code, focusing on election administration and procedures. It introduces confidentiality protections for ballot information related to specific polling places, allowing county election officials to withhold such details without seeking additional approval. The bill adjusts rules for county election precinct combinations, allowing commissioners courts more flexibility in combining precincts while setting new parameters on the number of registered voters per precinct. It modifies the countywide polling place program to establish polling places at each county election precinct and expands testing procedures for voting systems to include additional verification steps. The bill also significantly changes how political party county chairs and precinct chairs are selected, removing previous provisions for primary election voting for these positions and instead allowing selection through party conventions or meetings using hand-marked paper ballots. Additionally, the legislation removes several existing provisions related to write-in candidacy, ballot order, and record transfer requirements, particularly for precinct chairs. The changes will apply to elections ordered on or after the bill's effective date of September 1, 2025, and aim to streamline and modernize election administration processes in Texas.

Government Affairs

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB4842