H.B. No. 1802 amends the Texas Election Code to improve voter registration processes and establish new criminal offenses related to voter registration. Notably, the bill removes the requirement for applicants to provide a Texas driver's license number or social security number on their voter registration applications. It introduces a new section, 13.0071, which criminalizes the act of knowingly registering to vote as a non-U.S. citizen, classifying it as a second-degree felony. Additionally, registrars are now mandated to verify an applicant's citizenship during the voter registration approval process. The bill also updates the information required on registration forms, including statements about the consequences of providing false information and making the provision of a telephone number and sex optional.

Furthermore, the bill enhances the mail-in voting process by requiring an online tool to track applications for mail-in ballots and assign unique barcodes to carrier envelopes. This tool will also update a website with key events related to mail-in voting, such as the receipt and acceptance of applications and ballots. It specifies conditions under which early voting ballots by mail may be invalidated due to missing or incorrect information and modifies the process for updating voter registration records when discrepancies arise. The legislation aims to ensure a more secure and accessible voting process, with changes set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Election Code 13.002, Election Code 13.072, Election Code 13.122, Election Code 16.031, Election Code 84.002, Election Code 84.011, Election Code 84.014, Election Code 86.001, Election Code 86.002, Election Code 86.015, Election Code 87.0271, Election Code 87.0411, Election Code 101.053 (Election Code 16, Election Code 86, Election Code 13, Election Code 87, Election Code 84, Election Code 101)