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Bill

HB 4728

Relating to the elimination of electronic poll lists and the countywide polling place program and to the required use of hand-marked paper ballots for all elections.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Ben Bumgarner and 7 co-sponsors

Texas bill eliminates electronic poll books and countywide polling sites, requiring hand-marked paper ballots statewide, shifting election administration from digital to manual systems.

Referred to Elections
#elections--administration(i0277) #elections--earlyvoting(i0260) #elections--general(i0310) #elections--registration&suffrage(i0265) #elections--votingsystems(i0270) #electronicinformationsystems(i0311)
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Bill Summary · HB 4728

Legislative bill overview

HB 4728 would eliminate Texas counties' use of electronic poll lists (e-poll books) and the countywide polling place program, while mandating hand-marked paper ballots for all elections. The bill represents a significant shift away from electronic voting systems toward manual paper-based voting infrastructure.

Why is this important

Election administration methods directly affect voting accessibility, security, and operational costs. This bill would substantially alter how Texas conducts elections across all 254 counties, potentially impacting voter check-in processes, polling place flexibility, and election security practices that have evolved over two decades.

Potential points of contention

  • Voting accessibility: Eliminating countywide polling place flexibility could reduce voting locations in some areas and eliminate same-day polling place changes, potentially affecting voters with transportation limitations or last-minute schedule changes
  • Implementation costs and timeline: Mandating statewide transition to hand-marked ballots and eliminating electronic systems requires significant county-level infrastructure investment, training, and logistical coordination across diverse jurisdictions
  • Election security trade-offs: While paper ballots provide auditability, electronic poll books reduce check-in errors and duplicate voting; the bill trades electronic security measures for different paper-based verification methods without addressing how counties verify voter eligibility at consolidated locations

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

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