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DONT MISS THE LEGISLATIVE WRAP-UP
THIS THURSDAY!
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DATE: Thursday, June 26, 2025
TIME: 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM
WHERE: Zoom (link sent upon registration)
TOPIC: Legislative Wrap-Up: Election Law Changes & Their Impact
~CLICK THE BUTTON TO REGISTER~
| | Watch your TEN newsletter for details coming soon! | | At this time, Governor Abbott has identified six bills that were vetoed or filed without signature that will be placed on the upcoming Special Session agenda for further consideration. Senate Bill 2878 is the only bill affecting elections. | | |
SECRETARY JANE NELSON ANNOUNCES
Millions in Election Security Grants for Texas Counties
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On June 18, 2025, Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson announced the launch of a new election security grant program to strengthen election integrity throughout the state. The grants are available to assist Texas’ 254 counties in their efforts to secure elections.
Approximately $10 million in grants are available using federal Help America Vote Act funds. Grant amounts are based on the number of registered voters in each county and require a 20-percent county match.
"These grants will go a long way toward helping counties better secure their elections, and I’m pleased to partner with counties to promote election security throughout Texas,” said Secretary Nelson.
Funding for these grants comes from money given to the state as a part of the Help America Vote Act. Funding priorities include:
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- Compliance with paper audit trail requirements
- Replacement of decertified electronic pollbooks
- Video surveillance systems to comply with ballot security measures
- Protection of election equipment and supplies
- IT services and upgrades
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Grant applications are due June 30, and awards will be made by August 1, 2025. Counties must submit a resolution from their commissioner's court and must document how funds are used to enhance election security.
“Texas voters deserve free and secure elections,” said Secretary Nelson. “These grants will help ensure that security for many election cycles to come.”
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SOS BALLOT ORDER DRAWING
for Constitutional Amendments is June 25
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Drawing for the ballot order of amendments to the Texas Constitution for the Nov. 4 Election. The ballot order will be drawn by Secretary of State Jane Nelson. There are 17 proposed amendments.
The drawing is Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. (Please arrive by 10:45 for camera set up) at the Secretary of State’s Office, Texas Capitol, 1E.8 (First floor, East side of the Capitol)
Parking: The Capitol Visitors Garage is located at 1201 San Jacinto Blvd. The first two hours of parking are free. There is additional metered parking around the Capitol.
If you plan to attend in person, please email Alicia Pierce at apierce@sos.texas.gov.
Following the drawing, the SOS office will issue a news release with the ballot order.
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SOS PROJECT VOTE:
Did You Know that High School Principals
are Required to be Deputy Registrars?
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In Texas, high school principals play a crucial role in fostering civic engagement among young adults. According to the Texas Election Code (Sec. 13.046), every principal of a public or private high school, or their designee, is required to serve as a High School Deputy Registrar. In this capacity, principals are responsible for distributing voter registration forms and collecting completed applications from eligible students and employees.
Each academic year, principals must ensure that voter registration forms are provided to students who are or will be 18 years of age or older. The Texas Administrative Code (Title 1, Part 4, Chapter 81, Rule §81.7) further outlines the procedures principals must follow to comply with this responsibility, including the timely submission of completed registration forms to the county voter registrar.
By deputizing high school principals, Texas aims to encourage voter registration and participation among its youngest eligible voters, ensuring that students are prepared to engage in the electoral process as they reach voting age.
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INDEPENDENCE DAY
It’s not just another holiday. It’s not just about a day off work, or being with family, or about food, baseball, festivals, concerts, parades, or fireworks. It’s not just the day after July the 3rd. It’s about celebrating our FREEDOM.
The Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4th, 1776, and outlined the colonists' reasons for seeking independence from British rule, asserting our natural rights, and justifying our right to revolution. The Declaration’s preamble states, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness".
| | | | An unalienable right is a fundamental right or freedom that cannot be taken away, either by a government or by another person. These rights are often considered to be God-given and inherent to all individuals. The term "unalienable" emphasizes that these rights are inseparable from the individual and cannot be surrendered or transferred. What the government didn’t give to you, the government cannot take away. That is worth celebrating! | | Of course we want you to wear your red, white, and blue, fly your flag, and celebrate U.S. liberty and sovereignty, but remember what it’s all about, and share those principles with your friends and family! Start planning now to have a special and meaningful Independence Day! | | |
YOUR COUNTY CHAIR
is Looking for Election Workers
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County Chairs are required to submit lists of people who are willing to serve as Election Day and Early Voting Election Judges or Clerks, on the Early Voting Ballot Board or Signature Verification Committee, and in the Central Counting Station.
Depending on the size of the county, the list is due at the end of June or the end of July.
If you haven’t already signed up, please contact your County Chair right away to get on the list. As a back-up, please also contact your County’s Elections Office.
County Election Officials: https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/county.shtml
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As a reminder, we encourage all Texans to stay engaged, informed, and prepared for the important civic opportunities ahead. From the upcoming Special Session to the constitutional amendments on November's ballot, from supporting election worker recruitment in your county to educating the next generation about their constitutional rights, there are countless ways to participate in our electoral process. The freedoms we celebrate this Independence Day weren't won by the passive or the silent, but by ordinary citizens who understood that liberty requires vigilance and civic participation. Together, we're committed to strengthening our great state through voter education, election integrity, and community engagement—one informed citizen, one trained election worker, and one engaged community at a time.
Melissa Conway
Texas Election Network
Managing Director
832-648-0770
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