As of Oct. 15, Ballotpedia has tracked 193 election-related bills in the Texas House of Representatives since the beginning of the year. Of the 193, Ballotpedia tracked two from Oct. 9-15. Democrats sponsored one, while Republicans sponsored the other. The two bills are below:
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TX HB36: Relating to electronic voter registration, Rep. John Bucy (D).
- As introduced, this bill:
- “Directs the secretary of state to implement an online voter registration option.
- Provides that a qualified voter with an unexpired driver’s license or personal ID card may register online, and requires the voter to consent to the use of their ID signature.
- Provides procedures for those registering without an unexpired driver’s license or personal ID card, including an attestation and a signature.
- Requires that the online voter registration website prominently display a description of registration and voting related offenses near where the person applies to register to vote.”
- As introduced, this bill:
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TX HB112: Relating to the separation of federal elections from state and local elections, and to related practices and procedures, Rep. Mike Schofield (R).
- As introduced, this bill:
- “Separates federal elections from state elections, including requiring a separate ballot.
- Directs that federal and state elections be held concurrently to the extent possible and directs the secretary of state to adopt related rules.
- Establishes that if federal law allows someone to be eligible to register to vote, but state law does not, the person may submit an application to register and to vote in federal elections, but not state elections.
- Designates the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November of even-numbered years as the date for federal general elections.
- Designates the first Tuesday in March of even-numbered years as the date for federal primary elections.”
- As introduced, this bill:
During the week of Oct. 9-15, Ballotpedia tracked four House election-related bills nationally. As of Oct. 15, Ballotpedia has tracked 1,753 House bills nationally. Ballotpedia tracked the most House bills this year in the New York State Assembly with 195, while Ballotpedia tracked the fewest House bills in the Colorado House of Representatives with seven.
As of Oct. 15, Ballotpedia has tracked 779 House bills in Democratic trifectas and 750 House bills in Republican trifectas. A trifecta is when one political party holds the governorship and majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. Ballotpedia has tracked 224 House bills in states where neither party holds trifecta control.
The Texas House was scheduled to be in regular session from Jan. 10 to May 29 this year. In 2022, Ballotpedia tracked zero House bills related to election administration. Texas is a Republican trifecta.
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