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Bill

HB 3517

Relating to the prosecution of the criminal offense of unlawfully publishing a vote.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Matt Morgan

Texas bill strengthening criminal penalties for publicly disclosing someone's individual vote without consent to protect ballot secrecy.

Referred to Elections
#communications&press(i0073) #crimes--againstpersons--general(i0170) #email&electroniccommunications(s0321) #elections--administration(i0277) #elections--general(i0310) #protectionofpersonalinformation(i0003)
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 3517

Legislative bill overview

HB 3517 relates to prosecution of the crime of unlawfully publishing a vote—specifically making it illegal to publicly disclose how someone voted without their consent. The bill appears to strengthen or clarify existing Texas law regarding the confidentiality and secrecy of individual voting choices. The exact amendments are not detailed in the available information, but the bill was recently referred to the Elections committee for review.

Why is this important

Ballot secrecy is a foundational principle of democratic elections, protecting voters from coercion, intimidation, and retaliation based on their voting choices. Clarifying criminal penalties for vote disclosure violations strengthens enforcement of this protection. However, the bill's scope and definitions will significantly impact what constitutes illegal publication—touching on tensions between privacy rights and free speech.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope of "publishing": Whether the law applies only to official election workers, media outlets, or any individual sharing voting information, and how it treats social media, exit polls, and voter surveys
  • First Amendment concerns: Balancing ballot secrecy with constitutional protections for political speech and public discourse about voting patterns
  • Enforcement clarity: Whether the bill provides sufficient definition of what "unlawfully" means and who can be prosecuted, or if vague language could lead to selective enforcement

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

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