Texas Bill on Voting When Your Address Changes

HB 305 makes changes to how Texans vote when they move. The bill focuses on voters who have changed where they live but stayed in the same county. This law helps make voting easier for people in transition.

Under HB 305, if a voter moves within their county, they can still vote at their old polling place. This is allowed as long as the voter still lives somewhere in the same county. The voter must be registered in that county and meet other eligibility requirements. For elections in smaller areas, the voter must also live in the specific political subdivision or territory where the election is being held.

Before a voter can cast a ballot under these rules, they must fill out and sign a statement. This statement confirms that the voter meets the residence requirements for voting. The statement also includes all the information needed to register to vote, plus the date the statement was submitted to the election officer.

The bill also changes when voter registration updates take effect. Previously, some registration changes became official on the 30th day after submission. The new law adjusts this timing for address changes reported to the state. These changes apply to any address changes submitted after the law takes effect.

This policy helps our community make voting more accessible for people during moves. It recognizes that moving within a county is common and should not prevent someone from voting in the next election.