Texas House Bill HB3371

Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

Caption

Relating to an application for a ballot to be voted by mail.

Impact

The implementation of HB3371 has the potential to significantly affect the way mail-in ballots are managed in Texas. By extending the validity of ballot applications across multiple elections, it is expected to reduce the administrative burden on county clerks and make it easier for voters to participate in elections without the need to submit new applications for each voting event. This change aims to encourage higher voter turnout among those who prefer or require mail-in voting due to various circumstances.

Summary

House Bill 3371 proposes amendments to the Election Code regarding applications for mail-in voting ballots. Specifically, the bill states that applications for ballots must be considered valid not only for the current election but also for any subsequent elections occurring until a predetermined condition is met. This includes situations such as when a voter moves to another county or when their registration is canceled. The intent of this legislation is to streamline the voting process for citizens who opt for mail-in voting, thereby increasing accessibility.

Contention

Despite its potential benefits, there may be points of contention surrounding HB3371, particularly from those concerned about the security and integrity of mail-in voting processes. Critics could argue that making applications valid across multiple elections might lead to complications in voter rolls, especially if voters do not keep their registrations updated. Furthermore, there may be debates regarding the implications this has on local election administration and whether such measures could inadvertently facilitate voter fraud, despite such risks being low in practice.