Jun 17, 2017 | Legislation
Three election-related bills were among 50 vetoes issued by Gov. Greg Abbott. House Bill 2410 by Rep. Celia Israel (D-Austin) would have permitted a primary runoff to be conducted by mail if fewer than 100 votes were cast in the county’s primary election and no...
Jun 1, 2017 | Legislation
Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law bills that conform the state’s Voter ID law to recent judicial rulings and end the option to cast a single-punch, straight-party ballot after the 2018 general election. Senate Bill 5 by Sen. Joan Huffman (R-Houston) codifies a process...
May 29, 2017 | Legislation
This post had been updated to reflect Gov. Abbott’s subsequent actions on these bills. The 85th Legislature, Regular Session has adjourned sine die. While there are rumors of a special session in the air, one is not likely to include election-related issues....
May 27, 2017 | breaking-news, Legislation
Updated. The conference committee on Senate Bill 5, the Voter ID fix, largely kept to the Senate’s version and rejected House language calling for a voter turnout strategic plan and a report on voter education expenditures. The conference committee report (pdf) was...
May 25, 2017 | Campaign News
Voter ID: The Senate refused to concur in House amendments to Senate Bill 5 and appointed a conference committee comprised of Sens. Joan Huffman (R-Houston), Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston), Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola), Eddie Lucio Jr. (D-Brownsville) and Jane Nelson...
May 24, 2017 | Campaign News
Voter ID: The House gave final approval to Senate Bill 5, the Voter ID fix, by a party-line 93-55 vote. The bill goes back to the Senate for either concurrence or a request to appoint a conference committee. LTGOV: Beaumont pastor Michael Cooper announced his...
May 23, 2017 | Legislation
The House gave preliminary approval to a bill that largely conforms the state’s Voter ID law to a court decision requiring a process for people to vote who lack an acceptable form of identification. The 95-54, almost party-line vote capped a lengthy debate over the...
May 20, 2017 | Legislation, Straight-ticket Voting
The House concurred in the Senate’s amendment to House Bill 25 by Rep. Ron Simmons (R-Carrollton), sending the measure to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk. The bill would end the practice of voting for all of a party’s candidates using a single punch, mark or other action....
May 18, 2017 | Campaign News
Single-punch Elimination: The Senate gave final passage to House Bill 25 by Rep. Ron Simmons (R-Carrollton), sponsored by Sen. Kelly Hancock (R-North Richland Hills), to end the practice of single-punch, straight-ticket voting in the state. None of the chamber’s...
May 17, 2017 | Campaign News
Single-punch Elimination: By a 20-10 party-line vote, the Senate tentatively approved a bill that would end single-punch voting for all a political party’s candidates. Sen. Kelly Hancock (R-North Richland Hills), sponsor of House Bill 25 by Rep. Ron Simmons...
May 11, 2017 | Legislation
The Senate Business & Commerce Committee heard testimony on, and ultimately approved, a bill that would end single-punch, straight-ticket voting in Texas: House Bill 25 by Rep. Ron Simmons (R-Carrollton). It passed the House last week on a near party-line vote....
May 9, 2017 | Campaign News
Registration Deadline: Thursday, May 11 is the deadline to register to vote for any runoff election being held June 10. Rep. RonSimmons Single-punch Elimination: House Bill 25 by Rep. Ron Simmons (R-Carrollton) will be heard in the Senate Business & Commerce...
