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Bill

SB 147

Relating to the designation of polling place locations on the campuses of certain institutions of higher education.

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

Texas bill mandates on-campus polling locations at select higher education institutions to improve student voter accessibility and participation rates.

Referred to State Affairs
#countygovernment--general(i0096) #education--higher--institutions&programs(i0223) #elections--general(i0310)
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Bill Summary · SB 147

Legislative bill overview

SB 147 requires Texas to designate polling place locations on the campuses of certain institutions of higher education, making it easier for college students to vote. The bill specifically addresses accessibility to voting by ensuring that eligible higher education institutions have official polling sites rather than requiring students to vote off-campus.

Why is this important

College students historically have lower voter turnout rates, partly due to barriers like transportation and polling place distance. By mandating on-campus polling locations, this bill aims to reduce friction in the voting process and potentially increase student participation in elections. This directly affects voter accessibility and could influence electoral outcomes in areas with large college populations.

Potential points of contention

  • Definition of "certain institutions": The bill's effectiveness depends on which institutions qualify—community colleges, four-year universities, or both—which may create disputes about coverage scope
  • Resource allocation: Schools may argue that providing polling infrastructure strains institutional budgets and diverts resources from educational priorities
  • Partisan implications: Increased college voter turnout historically benefits Democratic candidates, so Republican legislators may oppose this as a voting access measure with partisan consequences

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

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