Overview

• Abbott expanded the special session to consider a prohibition on “same-day voter registration,” aiming to nullify SB 2217’s immediate in-county address-change voting.
• State Rep. Briscoe Cain filed HB 296 to strip the Shaheen amendment and keep address updates from taking effect for voting until after the waiting period.
• The change at issue does not create same-day registration for new voters, as Texas still requires registration 30 days before an election.
• The new rule is scheduled to begin Sept. 1 after Abbott signed SB 2217 in June, leaving a narrow window for legislative action.
• Election administrators warn same-day address updates at polling places would strain staff and increase the risk of issuing the wrong ballot.