(Texas Scorecard) – Texas lawmakers have voted to roll back a same-day voter registration change, sending the measure to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk for final approval.
The issue stems from the regular session earlier this year, when State Rep. Matt Shaheen (R–Plano) successfully amended Senate Bill 2217 to allow a voter’s registration to take effect immediately upon a registrar’s receipt of a change-of-address notice if the voter moved within the same county.
That provision was hailed by some as a modernization of voter registration rules.
But local election officials raised alarms. In training sessions hosted by the secretary of state’s office, administrators warned that same-day address updates at polling places could lead to errors, including voters being issued the wrong ballot.
For example, a voter could say they have moved to a different congressional district inside a county with little or no way to verify the change at the polling place.
In response, Abbott placed the issue on the special session call, leading to Senate Bill 54 by State Sen. Bryan Hughes (R–Mineola).
“I added an agenda item to the special session to END this same day voter registration that was snuck into a bill in the regular session,” Abbott wrote in a social media post. “We will not open the door to potential election fraud.”
The measure was carried in the House by Shaheen himself. It repeals the same-day registration provision before it takes effect, restoring the traditional 30-day waiting period for address changes.
However, Shaheen—joined by Democrat State Rep. John Bucy—insisted his original amendment was not “same-day voter registration.”
“You got it right two months ago,” said Bucy.
Under the legislation, voters who move within the same county may still cast a ballot if otherwise eligible, but they must do so in the precinct where they are registered—not in their new precinct of residence. The bill also changes the required “statement of residence” form voters must sign, removing language that would have automatically updated their registration address.
“SB 54 corrects a terrible mistake made during the regular session,” said Christine Welborn, president of Advancing Integrity. “Texas cannot allow same-day registration.”
With both chambers having approved the measure, SB 54 now heads to Abbott’s desk. If signed, it will take effect immediately.