H.B. No. 4508 amends various sections of the Election Code to modify the administration and procedures for early voting by personal appearance in Texas. One significant change is the adjustment of the population threshold for certain provisions related to early voting. Specifically, the bill lowers the population requirement for counties eligible for state funds to defray early voting costs from 55,000 to 10,000. Additionally, it mandates that in counties with a population of 10,000 or more, early voting must be conducted for at least 12 consecutive hours on weekdays during the last week of the early voting period, and on the last Saturday and Sunday of that period, with specific time restrictions.

The bill also introduces new provisions regarding the scheduling of early voting hours in smaller counties, allowing for flexibility in determining which weekend day will have extended hours, contingent upon agreement from party chairs. Furthermore, it clarifies that certain regulations apply only to elections in counties with populations of 10,000 or more. The changes will take effect on September 1, 2025, and will apply only to elections for which early voting begins on or after that date.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Election Code 19.004, Election Code 85.005, Election Code 85.006, Election Code 85.064 (Election Code 19, Election Code 85)