Texas House Bill HB330

Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Caption

Relating to elections; creating criminal offenses; increasing criminal penalties.

Impact

The bill introduces stricter regulations around voting processes, particularly increasing penalties for election officials and judges who fail to adhere to the rules regarding voter eligibility and assistance. For instance, election judges who wrongly accept provisional ballots or fail to follow specified guidelines related to the acceptance of voters can face state jail felonies and Class A misdemeanors, thus escalating the severity of offenses associated with election conduct. This could lead to greater scrutiny and compliance requirements for those involved in administering elections, possibly deterring misconduct.

Summary

House Bill 330 relates to the conduct of elections in Texas, focusing on creating new criminal offenses and increasing penalties for certain election-related violations. One of the most significant alterations introduced by this bill is the implementation of a supermajority requirement for electors in local bond elections, necessitating at least two-thirds of voters to approve the issuance of bonds, as well as mandating a threshold of 20% of registered voters to participate in the election. These measures aim to enhance the accountability of bond issuances by local governments, potentially reflecting broader fiscal responsibility concerns.

Contention

While proponents argue that stricter penalties and new voting requirements will promote election integrity and accountability, opponents express concern that these changes could disenfranchise voters, particularly those requiring assistance at polling locations, such as residents of nursing homes and disabled individuals. By imposing higher barriers for bond authorizations and complicating the voting process through harsh penalties, critics worry that the legislation could suppress turnout and exacerbate challenges related to voting access for vulnerable populations in Texas.