Don't miss our upcoming TEN Talk on May 2nd from 9-10 AM! Join us via Zoom for "Ballot Box to Legislative Chamber: Spring Election & Legislative Update" where we'll unpack the latest developments shaping Texas elections. Get the inside scoop on early voting trends in the spring elections and stay informed about crucial election reform bills currently navigating the legislative session. Whether you're a political enthusiast or simply a concerned voter, this timely discussion provides essential context for understanding how your vote connects to legislative action. Register now to ensure your place in this vital conversation about the future of Texas elections!

Things you should know:

Officers or employees of a political subdivision ordering an election CANNOT spend public resources on political advertising once the election is ordered. Resources include time, copiers, computers, phones, etc.

Distributing information is allowed but should be clearly objective.

Advocacy for or against a person or proposition is political advertising.

In Texas, school bonds typically result in a property tax increase, but it's not always a tax rate increase. While bonds are a form of borrowing to fund capital improvements, the repayment is financed through property taxes, which can lead to an increase in the amount paid, even if the tax rate remains the same. 

The 86th Texas Legislature passed HB 3, which included a requirement that the phrase "THIS IS A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE" be added to all school district bond election ballots. Since the addition of this phrase, and since voters were given the right to vote on bond proposition categories separately, such as school buildings or football stadiums, the number of bond propositions that pass has declined. Voters are able to make informed decisions on the amount of school district bond debt they want to approve and for what purpose.

Voter Assistance:

If you need assistance at the polls, tell the election official you are a voter who needs help to vote. You do not have to provide proof of your disability. For guidance on which voters are eligible to receive assistance at the polling place, please see Section 208 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) which provides for voters who need assistance to vote by reason of blindness, disability, or inability to read or write.

Voters may be assisted by:

·       Any person the voter chooses who is not an election worker (Poll Watcher may not observe);

·       Two election workers on Election Day (Poll Watcher may observe); or

·       One election worker during Early Voting in Person (Poll Watcher may observe).

Voters may NOT be assisted by:

·       Their employer;

·       An agent of their employer; or

·       An officer or agent of their union.

The person assisting the voter must read him or her the entire ballot, unless the voter asks to have only parts of the ballot read. The person assisting the voter must take an oath that he or she will not try to influence the voter’s vote and will mark the ballot as the voter directs. If the voter chooses to be assisted by polling place officials, poll watchers and election inspectors may observe the voting process, but if the voter asks to be assisted by a person the voter chooses, no one else may watch him or her vote.

It is illegal for the person assisting the voter to: Try to influence the voter’s vote; mark the voter’s ballot in a way other than the way they have asked; or tell anyone how the voter voted.

Voters who cannot speak English, or who communicate only with sign language, may use an interpreter to help them communicate with election officials, regardless of whether the election official(s) attending to the voter can speak the same language as the voter. The voter may select any person other than the voter’s employer, an agent of the voter’s employer, or an officer or agent of a labor union to which the voter belongs. If the voter cannot read the languages on the ballot, the interpreter may also act as an assistant for the voter, but they must follow the procedures for an assistant. (See assistance section above for more details.) If the voter is deaf and does not have a sign language interpreter who can accompany them to help communicate with the poll worker or read the ballot, the voter should contact his or her local election officials before the election and request assistance.

*These training classes are available on demand if you register but cannot attend.

Under the Texas Election Code, a party is entitled to appropriate injunctive relief to prevent a violation of the Election Code from continuing or occurring. 

During the November 2022 election in Harris County, there was a temporary restraining order issued to keep the polls open an hour later. The Office of the Attorney General was not notified of the hearing or the results by the court even though the election was over federal and state offices. 

SB 509 would require that if a court issues a temporary restraining order (TRO) under the Texas Election Code, a copy of the temporary restraining order would be submitted to the Texas Attorney General.

SB 509 amends current law relating to requiring notice to the attorney general in an action under the Election Code seeking a temporary restraining order.

Senator Paul Bettencourt’s SB 509 was engrossed by the Senate (24-6) on March 24^th and referred to the House Elections Committee on April 9^th. The companion bill, HB 1475 by State Rep. Mike Schofield, was reported favorably as substituted by the House Elections Committee (6-2) on April 14^th.  

To look up the votes on any bill, search by bill number here:

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/VoteInfo.aspx

How to follow a bill:

https://capitol.texas.gov/resources/FollowABill.aspx

Access to ALL Texas Statutes:

https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/

As of 04/21/25, Number of bills this session...

Left pending in House Committee or Subcommittee: 1,547

Passed to Engrossment by the House: 51

Left pending in Senate Committee or Subcommittee: 736

Passed to Engrossment by the Senate: 106

Bills signed by the Governor: 0

REGISTER TO ACCESS PREVIOUS TRAININGS

Texas Legislature Online (TLO) REGISTER

Effective Legislative Advocacy at the Texas Capitol REGISTER

ISSUE FORUM: Countywide vs. Precinct Polling Panel Discussion REGISTER

Bifurcation of the Texas Voter Roll REGISTER

Candidate Training REGISTER

Ranked Choice Voting: What it could mean for Texas Elections REGISTER

It's crucial to mobilize more voters for our Spring election, where turnout is typically low. Remember that Early Voting for our crucial local elections runs April 22-29, with Election Day on May 3rd. Today is our last live training for the Spring election, but all previously held trainings are available on demand. Don't forget to join us for our next TEN Talk on May 2nd - "Ballot Box to Legislative Chamber" - where we'll cover spring election trends and legislative updates. The Texas Election Network is ready to train you for vital roles as Election Workers, Poll Watchers, and more. These local elections directly impact your community!

I'd like to close by thanking you for being the difference that strengthens Texas from the grassroots up!

Melissa Conway

Texas Election Network

Managing Director

832-648-0770

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