Any Texas voter could ask for a mail-in ballot without giving a reason
What it does
HB 304 would let any qualified voter ask for an early voting ballot by mail without giving a reason, such as being away from your county, being 65 or older, or living in a jail, nursing home, or long-term care facility. The application would still require your name, the address where you are registered to vote, and either a Texas driver's license or ID number, the last four digits of your Social Security number, or a statement that you have neither. Voters in the state's address confidentiality program would still have to register in person to qualify, and a jail would be allowed to deliver ballot applications for the people held there. According to its official description, the bill would also repeal certain criminal offenses tied to soliciting and distributing mail ballot applications.
What it means for your community
Your county election clerk would handle these requests and mail the ballots, and the application would now ask for an ID number, which adds a step for staff and voters. If you want to vote early, you would no longer have to explain why, and if your address is protected through the state's address confidentiality program, you would still need to register in person to get a ballot. The new rules would apply only to elections ordered on or after September 1, 2027.
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