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Bill

HB 4152

Relating to the required use of hand-marked paper ballots for all elections.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by David Lowe and 1 co-sponsor

Texas bill mandates hand-marked paper ballots for all elections, replacing electronic systems to enhance vote security but raising implementation costs and accessibility concerns.

Referred to Elections
#elections--administration(i0277) #elections--general(i0310)
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Bill Summary · HB 4152

Legislative bill overview

HB 4152 would mandate that all elections in Texas use hand-marked paper ballots as the voting method. This represents a significant shift from current practices, where some Texas counties use electronic voting machines without paper ballot backups or use other ballot-marking systems. The bill appears designed to ensure a physical, voter-verified paper trail for every cast ballot.

Why is this important

Election security and voter confidence have become increasingly contentious issues. Hand-marked paper ballots are considered by many security experts as less vulnerable to large-scale hacking or manipulation compared to purely electronic systems, though they require robust chain-of-custody procedures. Implementation would affect operational procedures, costs, and training requirements across all 254 Texas counties and could impact voting speed and accessibility for certain voters.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost and implementation burden: Counties would need to purchase new equipment, train poll workers, and potentially redesign voting locations to accommodate paper ballot scanning infrastructure
  • Accessibility concerns: Some voters with disabilities, mobility issues, or visual impairments may find hand-marked ballots more difficult to complete independently compared to electronic ballot-marking machines
  • Voting speed and logistics: Hand-marked ballots typically require longer processing times, potentially creating longer lines during high-turnout elections and complicating same-day vote tabulation

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

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