BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center C.S.S.B. 62 89R15355 LRM-F By: Zaffirini State Affairs 3/4/2025 Committee Report (Substituted) AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT Current law permits children to accompany their parents to voting stations, but it is unclear whether they may mark ballots under their parents' direction. This ambiguity has raised concerns that voting clerks could prevent parents from allowing their children to participate in this way, denying parents the opportunity to teach their children about the importance of voting as a fundamental right and responsibility. C.S.S.B. 62 would address this issue by explicitly allowing children younger than 14 accompanying their parents to voting stations to read or mark ballots under their parents' direction. By providing this clarity, the bill would ensure parents could engage their children in the voting process, fostering early civic participation and emphasizing the significance of democratic engagement. C.S.S.B. 62 amends current law relating to the reading and marking of a ballot by a person occupying a voting station or by the person's child. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 64.002(b), Election Code, as follows: (b) Authorizes a child under 18 years of age to accompany the child's parent to a voting station, and, if the child is under 14 years of age, authorizes the child to read or mark the ballot at the direction of the parent. Provides that reading or marking a ballot under this subsection does not constitute assisting a voter for purposes of Subchapter B (Assisting Voter), Chapter 64 (Voting Procedures). SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center C.S.S.B. 62
89R15355 LRM-F By: Zaffirini
State Affairs
3/4/2025
Committee Report (Substituted)
Senate Research Center
C.S.S.B. 62
89R15355 LRM-F
By: Zaffirini
State Affairs
3/4/2025
Committee Report (Substituted)
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Current law permits children to accompany their parents to voting stations, but it is unclear whether they may mark ballots under their parents' direction. This ambiguity has raised concerns that voting clerks could prevent parents from allowing their children to participate in this way, denying parents the opportunity to teach their children about the importance of voting as a fundamental right and responsibility.
C.S.S.B. 62 would address this issue by explicitly allowing children younger than 14 accompanying their parents to voting stations to read or mark ballots under their parents' direction. By providing this clarity, the bill would ensure parents could engage their children in the voting process, fostering early civic participation and emphasizing the significance of democratic engagement.
C.S.S.B. 62 amends current law relating to the reading and marking of a ballot by a person occupying a voting station or by the person's child.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 64.002(b), Election Code, as follows:
(b) Authorizes a child under 18 years of age to accompany the child's parent to a voting station, and, if the child is under 14 years of age, authorizes the child to read or mark the ballot at the direction of the parent. Provides that reading or marking a ballot under this subsection does not constitute assisting a voter for purposes of Subchapter B (Assisting Voter), Chapter 64 (Voting Procedures).
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2025.