H.B. No. 277 aims to amend the Texas Election Code to facilitate early voting by mail for qualified voters and to repeal certain criminal offenses related to the solicitation and distribution of mail-in voting applications. Key amendments include clarifying that individuals certified for participation in the address confidentiality program are not eligible for early voting by mail unless they submit their application in person. The bill also expands eligibility for early voting to include mail-in voting, allowing any qualified voter to vote either by mail or in person. Additionally, it specifies that applications for mail-in ballots must include various personal information and addresses, depending on the applicant's circumstances, such as being out of the county on election day or being confined in jail.

The bill repeals several sections of the Election Code that previously governed early voting by mail, streamlining the process and removing outdated provisions. It also introduces new requirements for ballot applications, including the need for applicants to indicate their eligibility grounds and the addresses to which ballots should be mailed. The changes will take effect for elections ordered on or after November 1, 2025, and the bill will become law 91 days after the end of the legislative session.

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 86.001, Election Code 86.0015, Election Code 86.003, Election Code 86.004, Election Code 87.041, Election Code 102.001 (Election Code 13, Election Code 82, Election Code 87, Election Code 86, Election Code 84, Election Code 102)