HOUSE BILL 1701 |
HOUSE AUTHOR: Taylor et al. |
EFFECTIVE: Vetoed |
SENATE SPONSOR: Jackson |
House Bill 1701 amends the Election Code to increase from 2,000 to 5,000 the maximum number of registered voters in a county election precinct, and repeals a provision that establishes different maximums for counties of different sizes.
Reason Given for Veto: "House Bill No. 1701 would allow counties to combine election precincts, which would make them much larger and would limit the number of polling places. As a result, the bill would move many voters' polling places further from their homes. The bill would allow some precincts which are currently capped at 2,000 voters to grow to 5,000 voters, making people leave their neighborhoods to vote and increasing lines at polling places.
"We should work to allow people to vote in their neighborhoods and to make it easier, not harder, for Texans to vote on Election Day."