S.B. No. 1584 aims to enhance early voting accessibility in Texas by expanding eligibility for early voting by mail to all qualified voters and repealing certain criminal offenses related to the solicitation and distribution of mail-in voting applications. Key amendments include the insertion in Section 82.005, which allows any qualified voter to vote early by mail or in person, and clarifications in Sections 13.002(e) and 82.007 regarding the submission of applications for early voting by mail by individuals in the address confidentiality program. The bill also updates the requirements for early voting ballot applications, ensuring that voters aged 65 and older or those with specific physical conditions can receive ballots at appropriate addresses.

Furthermore, the bill modifies the criteria for casting late ballots, specifying that a qualified voter may do so if they have a sickness or physical condition that prevents them from voting in person on election day. It also repeals several existing provisions of the Election Code related to previous mail-in voting criteria, including Sections 82.001 through 82.004 and 82.008. The changes introduced by this Act will take effect on September 1, 2025, and will apply to elections ordered on or after that date.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Election Code 13.002, Election Code 82.005, Election Code 82.007, Election Code 84.001, Election Code 84.002, Election Code 84.009, Election Code 84.011, Election Code 84.0111, Election Code 86.001, Election Code 86.0015, Election Code 86.003, Election Code 86.004, Election Code 87.041, Election Code 102.001 (Election Code 87, Election Code 102, Election Code 82, Election Code 86, Election Code 84, Election Code 13)