Voter Identification

If this bill passes, it will change the rules about voter ID in Texas by making the list of documents that voters can use to prove who they are, bigger.

• Voters will need to show one or two kinds of ID when they vote in person.

• If someone has a reasonable challenge in getting an ID, they'll need to sign a piece of paper and share another kind of ID.

• People dropping off their mail-in ballots in person will also need to show ID.

  • Mail in ballot: a way to vote without going to a polling place. You receive your ballot in the mail, fill it out at home, and then send it back by mail. This allows you to vote from home.

• Right now, disabled voters have to show written proof from Social Security or the Department of Veterans Affairs to get out of showing ID.

  • Social Security: a program run by the U.S. government that gives money back to people who are retired, disabled, or to families when a worker dies. It's like a safety net to help people have income when they can't work.

  • Department of Veterans Affairs: a part of the government that provides services and benefits to military veterans, such as healthcare and financial assistance. It's there to support those who have served in the armed forces.

  • They also need to say that they don’t have a form of ID that Texas will accept.

• Right now, voters need to show one form of photo ID from a specific list. But if this bill gets the green light, voters will need to show one or two forms of ID:

  • Option 1: One kind of photo ID from that list.

  • Option 2: One kind of non-photo ID from a smaller list, plus a signed piece of paper explaining why they can’t get an ID that has their picture on it.

  • Option 3: Two kinds of non-photo ID, with one showing their current address.

  • If a voter doesn’t have one of the IDs they need, they can still vote if they:

    • Sign a paper saying they have a reasonable challenge in getting ID.

    • Show other IDs from a new, bigger list.

• If this bill passes, the new list of okay reasons for not having an ID includes:

  • No way to get to an ID.

  • Missing birth certificate or paperwork to get an ID.

  • Work schedule problems.

  • ID is lost or stolen.

  • Health issues or disability.

  • Family responsibilities.

  • Applied for ID but still waiting on it.

• If this bill passes, two new kinds of photo ID will be added:

  • Native American tribal papers with a photo and address (from a federally recognized tribe in Texas).

  • Any other document with the voter’s name, address, and photo that was given by the government.

• Right now the list of okay ID’s that don’t have the person’s picture on it only has ones like utility bills, bank statements, and government checks. But if this bill is passed, the list will include:

  • Medicare, Medicaid, VA, or other health insurance ID cards.

  • Military or Social Security ID cards.

  • Labels on medication you can only get from a pharmacy.

  • High school or college student ID cards.

  • Library cards.

  • Fishing or hunting licenses.

  • Paperwork that says you own a certain vehicle, like a car or truck

  • Property tax documents.

  • Letters from nursing homes, shelters, or retirement centers proving that you live their.

  • Credit or debit cards.

  • Bus or train cards.

• This bill:

  • Makes it clear that election officers have to note whether the voter showed ID.

  • Clarifies that voters can fill out official paperwork instead of showing an ID.

  • Makes voters show ID when they drop off a mail-in ballot in person.

  • Makes it clear that voters must submit a statement using paperwork from the Secretary of State, confirming they don’t have an ID that counts.

    • Secretary of state: a government official responsible for overseeing various state functions, which can include managing elections, handling business registrations, and maintaining state records. The specific tasks can be different in different states. 

• If this bill passes, these changes will kick in on September 1, 2025.