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Bill

HB 305

Relating to election procedures regarding accepting a voter with a residence address that is not current and the immediate effect of a voter's registration after the registrar's receipt of certain change of address notices.

89th Legislature, 2nd Called Session (2025) Introduced by Brooks Landgraf

Texas bill allows voters with outdated addresses to vote and makes registration changes effective immediately upon address notice receipt.

Filed
#elections--administration(i0277) #elections--general(i0310) #elections--registration&suffrage(i0265) #electronicinformationsystems(i0311) #politicalsubdivisions(i0588)
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 305

Legislative bill overview

HB 305 modifies Texas election procedures to allow voters with non-current residential addresses to cast ballots and establishes that voter registration changes take effect immediately upon the registrar's receipt of certain change of address notices. The bill addresses the practical challenge of voters whose addresses have changed but whose registration hasn't yet been updated in the system.

Why is this important

Election administration depends on accurate voter rolls, but address changes often lag behind actual moves. This bill could increase ballot access for mobile populations while potentially creating verification challenges for election officials trying to prevent duplicate voting or fraud. The immediate effect provision could either streamline registration updates or create administrative confusion depending on implementation.

Potential points of contention

  • Verification concerns: Accepting voters with non-current addresses raises questions about how officials verify eligibility and prevent voters from casting multiple ballots if they've moved between jurisdictions
  • Definition ambiguity: The bill's reference to "certain change of address notices" lacks specificity—unclear which notices trigger immediate registration or what sources qualify
  • Administrative burden: Election officials may face increased workload managing real-time registration updates and tracking voters with mismatched address information
  • Election integrity debate: Different stakeholders view address flexibility as either expanding access or creating vulnerability to fraud

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

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