BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 2442 By: Bucy Elections Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Current election law requires any Texas voter requesting a ballot by mail to subsequently request ballots by mail for any ensuing runoff election. The bill author has informed the committee that this process may be confusing for voters expecting to automatically receive a runoff ballot by mail after voting by mail in the initial election. The bill author has also informed the committee that this opt-in system made sense when the only allowable reason for voting by mail was absence from the county but that currently most ballots by mail are requested by individuals over 65 and individuals with disabilities, who would always be eligible for the ensuing runoff election. H.B. 2442 seeks to address this issue by providing for a runoff ballot to be automatically sent to a voter who voted by mail unless the voter opts out. CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS H.B. 2442 amends the Election Code to establish that an application for an early voting ballot by mail serves as an application for both the main election and for any resulting runoff election. The bill authorizes an applicant for an early voting ballot by mail for the main election to request not to receive a ballot for a resulting runoff election. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
H.B. 2442
By: Bucy
Elections
Committee Report (Unamended)
H.B. 2442
By: Bucy
Elections
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Current election law requires any Texas voter requesting a ballot by mail to subsequently request ballots by mail for any ensuing runoff election. The bill author has informed the committee that this process may be confusing for voters expecting to automatically receive a runoff ballot by mail after voting by mail in the initial election. The bill author has also informed the committee that this opt-in system made sense when the only allowable reason for voting by mail was absence from the county but that currently most ballots by mail are requested by individuals over 65 and individuals with disabilities, who would always be eligible for the ensuing runoff election. H.B. 2442 seeks to address this issue by providing for a runoff ballot to be automatically sent to a voter who voted by mail unless the voter opts out.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS H.B. 2442 amends the Election Code to establish that an application for an early voting ballot by mail serves as an application for both the main election and for any resulting runoff election. The bill authorizes an applicant for an early voting ballot by mail for the main election to request not to receive a ballot for a resulting runoff election.
EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2025.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Current election law requires any Texas voter requesting a ballot by mail to subsequently request ballots by mail for any ensuing runoff election. The bill author has informed the committee that this process may be confusing for voters expecting to automatically receive a runoff ballot by mail after voting by mail in the initial election. The bill author has also informed the committee that this opt-in system made sense when the only allowable reason for voting by mail was absence from the county but that currently most ballots by mail are requested by individuals over 65 and individuals with disabilities, who would always be eligible for the ensuing runoff election. H.B. 2442 seeks to address this issue by providing for a runoff ballot to be automatically sent to a voter who voted by mail unless the voter opts out.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
H.B. 2442 amends the Election Code to establish that an application for an early voting ballot by mail serves as an application for both the main election and for any resulting runoff election. The bill authorizes an applicant for an early voting ballot by mail for the main election to request not to receive a ballot for a resulting runoff election.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2025.