H.B. No. 209 seeks to delineate federal elections from state and local elections in Texas by establishing distinct practices and procedures for each. The bill introduces a specific definition of "federal election," which pertains to elections for federal offices, excluding presidential electors, and incorporates new terminology such as "federal judge" and "federal office." It mandates that federal elections be conducted separately from state and county elections, ensuring that federal ballots do not include state or county propositions. Furthermore, the bill requires that federal and state elections be held concurrently when feasible, utilizing the same precincts and polling locations to reduce voter confusion.

Additionally, the legislation amends various sections of the Election Code to clarify voter registration and candidate nomination processes for federal, statewide, and district offices. It establishes that the submission of a federal postcard application by an unregistered applicant will count as registration for voting in both state and federal elections, provided certain requirements are met. The bill also specifies the authorities responsible for ballot placement and withdrawal requests, emphasizing the roles of the secretary of state and county judges. Overall, the amendments aim to streamline election procedures, enhance clarity regarding election officials' responsibilities, and ensure consistency in the treatment of federal and statewide offices, with the act set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Election Code 1.002, Election Code 1.005, Election Code 11.002, Election Code 15.003, Election Code 41.007, Election Code 42.002, Election Code 67.010, Election Code 84.014, Election Code 101.052, Election Code 101.053, Election Code 101.055, Election Code 142.005, Election Code 145.033, Election Code 145.037, Election Code 146.024, Election Code 161.008, Election Code 163.006, Election Code 172.059, Election Code 172.121, Election Code 172.122, Election Code 173.063, Election Code 181.0311, Election Code 181.032, Election Code 181.068, Election Code 231.008, Election Code 232.013, Election Code 232.048, Election Code 252.005 (Election Code 142, Election Code 173, Election Code 41, Election Code 101, Election Code 84, Election Code 67, Election Code 232, Election Code 181, Election Code 1, Election Code 231, Election Code 163, Election Code 161, Election Code 42, Election Code 172, Election Code 11, Election Code 146, Election Code 15, Election Code 252, Election Code 145)