With early voting currently underway, Texans are busy casting their votes to determine the future of our cities, counties, state and country. While election season can spur a feeling of contention and strife, I encourage all of us to step back and reflect on the fact that we, as citizens of the greatest country and state ever known, are so blessed to have the ability to freely express our desires for our candidates of choice at the ballot box. No matter who you cast your vote for, what’s most important is that you exercise your right to vote. For more information about early voting locations, what you’ll need to bring with you to the polling locations, or any other questions you may have, please visit www.votetexas.gov.
With that, we’ll step back into our examination of House interim charges …
House Interim Charge: Elections
The House Committee on Elections has jurisdiction over all matters related to all elections in Texas, changes to the Texas Election Code, and campaign finance. The committee also has jurisdiction over the Texas Secretary of State’s office which oversees the elections process across the state.
During the interim, the committee will monitor the implementation of Senate Bills 1070 and 1750. SB 1070 ensures an efficient interstate “crosscheck” system, which the Secretary of State uses in coordination with other state’s election offices to ensure voters are not voters registered in Texas who are also registered to vote in another state. The bill, which protects the integrity of Texas’s voter rolls, also expands the criteria a public crosscheck system can use to compare voter registration information.
SB 1750 requires all counties with a population over 1,000,000 to have their elections administered by an elected official, the county clerk, rather than an appointed elections administrator. This requirement allows for more accountability and transparency to the voting public in our state’s most populated counties.
Additionally, the committee will study the adherence to Texas election laws throughout the state. The committee will evaluate the Secretary of State’s Election Audit Program’s findings and seek information regarding additional election issues in Texas. Afterwards, the committee will make recommendations to ensure counties followed Texas election laws and that those tasked with administering and enforcing the law receive the appropriate resources and training.
The mobile office is on the road again in November, and our district director looks forward to seeing you on the following dates at the following times: November 6 at the San Augustine County Courthouse in San Augustine from 9:30-11:30 a.m., November 13 at the Polk County Commissioners Courtroom in Livingston from 9:30-11:30 a.m. and the Tyler County Commissioners Courtroom in Woodville from 1:30-3:30 p.m. and November 20 at the Houston County Courthouse Annex in Crockett from 9:30-11:30 a.m. and the Trinity County Courthouse in Groveton from 1:30-3:30 p.m.
As always, please do not hesitate to contact my office if we can help you in any way. My district office may be reached at 936-634-2762 and my Capitol office may be reached at 512-463-0508. Additionally, I welcome you to follow along on my official Facebook page, where I will be posting regular updates on what’s happening in your State Capitol and sharing information that could be useful to you and your family: https://www.facebook.com/RepTrentAshby/.
