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SB 145

Relating to early voting by mail by any qualified voter and to the repeal of certain criminal offenses concerning the solicitation and distribution of an application to vote by mail.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Carol Alvarado and 5 co-sponsors

SB 145 lets any Texas voter use mail-in ballots early and removes criminal penalties for distributing mail-in voting applications.

Referred to State Affairs
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Bill Summary · SB 145

Legislative bill overview

SB 145 expands mail-in voting access in Texas by allowing any qualified voter to vote by mail early, rather than restricting it to specific categories (elderly, disabled, out-of-state voters). The bill also repeals criminal penalties for soliciting or distributing mail-in voting applications, removing barriers that currently discourage voter outreach organizations from promoting mail-in ballot access.

Why is this important

Mail-in voting accessibility directly affects voter participation rates and election administration. Texas currently has among the most restrictive mail-in voting rules in the nation, requiring voters to provide specific reasons. This bill would modernize voting procedures to match practices in many other states and could increase turnout, particularly among voters with mobility challenges, work constraints, or caregiving responsibilities.

Potential points of contention

  • Election security vs. accessibility trade-off: Opponents may argue expanded mail-in voting increases fraud risks or ballot chain-of-custody concerns, while supporters contend mail voting is secure and used successfully nationwide
  • Resource and logistics impact: Election administrators may worry about staffing, equipment, and ballot printing costs associated with processing significantly higher mail-in volumes
  • Partisan implications: Republicans historically oppose expanded mail-in voting citing fraud concerns; Democrats typically support it as an accessibility measure—making this politically contentious despite being framed as administrative reform

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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