As of Nov. 19, Ballotpedia has tracked 120 election-related bills in the Texas State Senate since the beginning of the year. Of the 120, Ballotpedia tracked two from Nov. 13-19. Republicans sponsored both of the bills. The bills are below:
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TX SB23: Relating to the combination of certain election precincts, Sen. Drew Springer (R).
- “As introduced, this bill:
- Provides that if, due to redistricting implementation, a county election precinct has fewer than 500 registered voters, a commissioners court, or county executive committee of a political party in a primary, may combine precincts.
- Provides that county election precincts in counties with fewer than 250,000 people may also be combined if changes result in precincts with 500-750 voters.
- Adds that a county with a population of less than 1.2 million, not participating in the countywide polling place program, may combine precincts if a suitable polling place cannot be secured, or if it serves voters of both precincts.”
- “As introduced, this bill:
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TX SB33: Relating to confirmation of a voter’s residence by a voter registrar, Sen. Lois Kolkhorst (R).
- “As introduced, this bill removes the option for the registrar to confirm an address if he or she believes that it may be different than the one indicated on the registration records, instead requiring the registrar to send a written confirmation notice if: the voter’s address is a post office box, or similar; or if on November 30 following an election the voters has not voted in 25 months and is not on the suspense list; or if the registrar has any other reason to believe the address is incorrect.”
During the week of Nov. 13-19, Ballotpedia tracked two Senate election-related bills nationally. As of Nov. 19, Ballotpedia has tracked 1,214 Senate bills nationally. Ballotpedia tracked the most Senate bills this year in the New York State Senate with 165, while Ballotpedia tracked the fewest Senate bills in the Vermont State Senate with two.
As of Nov. 19, Ballotpedia has tracked 548 Senate bills in Democratic trifectas and 481 Senate bills in Republican trifectas. A trifecta is when one political party holds the governorship and majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. Ballotpedia has tracked 185 Senate bills in states where neither party holds trifecta control.
The Texas Senate was scheduled to be in regular session from Jan. 10 to May 29 this year. In 2022, Ballotpedia tracked zero Senate bills related to election administration. Texas is a Republican trifecta.
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