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HB 1917

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

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by John Bucy

HB 1917 expands Texas mail-in voting to all qualified voters, permits electronic ballot transmission, and removes criminal penalties for distributing mail ballot applications.

Referred to Elections
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Bill Summary · HB 1917

Legislative bill overview

HB 1917 would expand early voting by mail in Texas to allow any qualified voter to vote by mail (not just those with specific excuses), permit electronic transmission of ballots to voters, and eliminate criminal penalties for soliciting or distributing mail-in ballot applications. Currently, Texas restricts mail-in voting to voters over 65, disabled, out-of-county during election, or confined due to illness.

Why is this important

This bill would significantly broaden ballot access in Texas, potentially increasing voter participation by removing barriers to mail voting. It would also decriminalize voter registration assistance activities that are currently classified as criminal offenses, affecting voting rights organizations and community groups.

Potential points of contention

  • Election security concerns: Opponents argue expanded mail voting increases fraud vulnerability and chain-of-custody risks, while supporters counter that mail voting has fraud rates comparable to in-person voting
  • Election administration capacity: Expanding mail voting requires significant resources for processing, tracking, and verification; some county election officials may face implementation challenges
  • Partisan disagreements: Texas Republicans have generally opposed no-excuse mail voting expansion citing fraud concerns, while Democrats support broader access; this reflects national voting access debates

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

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