Legislative Blog

J.B. Williams, J.D.

4 more bills that modify the Election Code

A Blog about 88th Legislature Laws

A Bit of Background

The following backgrounds help summarize the author's views on both the general topic: Texas and more specifically 88th Legislature Laws as it relates to that topic.

Brief Summary of Texas

Texas is truly a Republic. There are a multitude of items that to modify the state constitution must be modified. So there are times when Constitutional amendments are on the voting ballots. While I sometimes abhor the wording, the concept that all of those legally able to vote in Texas must vote on the change is a good one. And bills in Texas are generally short, making it easier for everyone to understand.

Summary of 88th Legislature Laws

The blogs here will discuss the laws passed by Congress and signed into law, as well as those, passed by Congress and approved by the voters to become law. There are a multitude of laws and each time I post blogs I will notate here the current effective date if it is different from prior blogs. I am currently posting bills that took effect immediately - those bills total 336. I am currently posting regarding larger bills, so each blog covers a single bill.

Blog Summary

SB 1750 - Abolishing the county elections administrators position in certain counties

SB 1933 - Certain oversight procedures of the state over county elections

SB 2258 - Authorizing cities to change the date for general elections

SB 2620 - Authorizing political subdivisions to change the date for general elections

4 more bills that modify the Election Code

Published: 2025-03-19

SB 1750

Abolishing the county elections administrators position in certain counties

A commissioners court in a county with a population of 3.5 million or less by create the position of county elections administrator.

All counties with a population of more than 3.5 million no longer has a county elections administrator. Those powers and duties are transferred to the county tax assessor-collector and the county clerk. The county tax assessor-collector shall serves as the voter registrar, and the duties and functions of the county clerk that were performed by the elections administrator revert to the county clerk.

SB 1933

Certain oversight procedures of the state over county elections

For counties of more than 4 million, the secretary of state may order administrative oversight of the office administering elections or voter registration if:

• an administrative election complaint is filed by a person who participated in the relevant election as:
  1. a candidate;
  2. a county or state chair of a political party;
  3. a presiding judge;
  4. an alternate presiding judge;
  5. head of a specific-purpose political committed;
• the secretary of state has provided notice the the election official; and
• after conducting an investigation, the secretary of state has good cause to believe that a recurring pattern of problems with election administration or voter registration exists in the county, this includes
  1. malfunctioning of voting systems that prevents voter from casting a vote;
  2. carelessness or official misconduct in distribution of election supplies;
  3. errors in tabulation of results that would have affected the outcome of an election;
  4. violation of timely delivery of results;
  5. discovery of properly executed voted ballots after the canvass of election that were not counted; or
  6. failure to conduct maintenance activities on lists of registered voters are required

There are detailed deadlines for notice requirements to county officials and responses from the county regarding possible election oversight.

Once the secretary of states oversight has concluded, if the recurring pattern of problems is not rectified, then they may file a petition for removal from office.

If the secretary of state completes an audit before the end of a 2 year period, they may randomly select a county with a population of less than 300,000 to be audited. If the secretary finds, during an audit, that problems exists that impede the free exercise of a citizen's right to vote, then they shall publicly release the findings and recommend the county for administrative oversight. They may also audit elections held in the county the previous 2 years.

SB 2258

Authorizing cities to change the date for general elections

This applies to city of 9,000 or less, if predominantly in a county of less than 4,800 square miles, and that has adopted a council-manager form of government. If they hold their election for new officers on a date other than the regular November election date, they had the opportunity to shift to the November election date for all future elections.

SB 2620

Authorizing political subdivisions to change the date for general elections

This applies to a municipality, independent school district, or hospital distance located in a county with a population of more than 19,900 but less than 20,000. If their election date for officers is not held on the November uniform election date, they may shift it to the November uniform election date.

 

J.B. Williams, J.D.

4,312 federal laws were passed from 1995 through December 2016.
Along with 88,819 federal rules and regulations.