Texas House Bill HB1457

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

• Out of House Committee: 5/1/09
• Voted on by House: 5/7/09
• Out of Senate Committee: 5/15/09
• Voted on by Senate: 5/26/09
• Governor Action: 6/19/09
• Enrolled: 5/29/09
• Vetoed: 6/19/09

Caption

Relating to procedures concerning verification of certain information submitted in a voter registration application.

Impact

This bill introduces significant amendments to the Election Code by establishing a new policy and verification processes for handling voter registration. Under the proposed changes, a standardized approach to verify applicants’ identification numbers will be set, emphasizing that a reasonable person’s assessment can suffice for verification rather than an exact match of details. This is expected to streamline the application process and prevent delays or rejections that could arise from minor discrepancies.

Summary

House Bill 1457 aims to refine the procedures concerning voter registration in the state of Texas. The bill's primary focus is to ensure that no qualified citizen is denied the right to vote because of clerical errors made by the government or due to technical defects in their voter registration applications. This legislative effort demonstrates an intention to promote voter accessibility and participation by addressing potential roadblocks that could disenfranchise eligible voters.

Contention

One notable point of contention surrounding HB 1457 could stem from varying opinions on the verification process and its potential implications. Supporters of the bill might champion it as a necessary step towards a more inclusive electoral process, whereas opponents could argue that the reliance on subjective assessments may introduce inconsistencies or vulnerabilities in verifying voter identity. The balance between accessibility and security is likely to be a focal point in discussions surrounding this bill.