Technology (Elections)

HB 2619 establishes an online voter registration system for Texas residents, allowing people to submit registration applications via the state's official website. It provides two pathways: applicants with a Texas driver's license or ID card must confirm their information is true and agree to use their existing signature for registration, while those without ID must print, sign, and mail a form while receiving information about obtaining an ID. The bill requires digital signature verification for ID holders and mandates security rules to protect application integrity. All electronic applications will be treated as mail-in submissions under existing election law, with website notices about voter registration fraud offenses.

HB 3361 eliminates electronic poll lists and the countywide polling place program in Texas elections. It bans the use of electronic devices to accept voters (Section 63.0016) and repeals all related provisions, including those governing electronic poll lists and the countywide program (repealing Sections 31.014, 43.007, and others). The bill applies statewide, directly affecting county election offices that previously used electronic systems or the countywide polling program. It takes effect September 1, 2025, requiring counties to transition to paper-based voter check-in processes.

HB 1152 amends Texas election law to allow electronic or photocopied signatures on mail ballot carrier envelopes for voters unable to sign by hand. It specifically permits these alternatives for accessibility, ensuring individuals with physical limitations can still vote by mail without invalidating their ballot. The bill applies directly to mail-in voters and to people assisting voters who deposit ballots in the mail. Key provisions require signatures to be in ink on paper unless an accommodation is necessary, with the change taking effect September 1, 2025. This update modifies existing signature requirements in Sections 86.005 and 86.0051 of the Election Code.

HB 242 creates a new criminal offense for obtaining personally identifiable voter information that connects a voter to their specific ballot choices, violating the constitutional right to a secret ballot. It makes this a third-degree felony, with exceptions for election officials acting within their official duties and for court-ordered access during election disputes. The law applies only to offenses occurring on or after its effective date (September 1, 2025), and does not affect past actions. This directly affects individuals or entities attempting to access or collect such private voting data without legal authorization.

SB 977 creates a program allowing Texas voters to complete registration applications online through the state's official website. It requires applicants with a Texas driver's license or ID card to affirm the accuracy of their information and consent to use their license signature; those without such ID must provide a digital signature. The bill mandates security measures, including verifying identity through the state's electronic portal and displaying voter fraud information prominently on the registration site. The system will function as equivalent to mail-in applications, with rules to ensure accuracy and integrity, effective September 1, 2025.

HB 2502 requires that voting system software in Texas must track all user inputs and activities, create a permanent record of that tracking, and cannot be disabled. This law directly affects voting equipment manufacturers and election officials responsible for approving and maintaining voting systems. The bill mandates these specific software requirements for all electronic voting equipment used in elections held on or after September 1, 2025. It focuses on ensuring transparent, verifiable operation of voting systems without adding new election procedures or administrative burdens.