AUSTIN – The Texas Public Policy Foundation today unveiled its Texas Election Integrity Agenda ahead of the 90th Legislative Session, outlining a legislative agenda aimed at strengthening election administration and ensuring Texans continue to trust in the state’s voting process.
“Protecting the integrity of Texas elections requires strong ballot security, proof-of-citizenship safeguards, and clear protections against foreign influence,” said TPPF’s National Election Protection Project Director Josh Findlay. “Strong election laws give voters confidence in a process that is fair, transparent, and consistent across Texas.”
The Texas Election Integrity Agenda includes:
Require a uniform voter-marked ballot. Texas would require a single, statewide standardized ballot format designed by the Secretary of State, ensuring all voters have a consistent voting experience across counties. Hand-marked paper ballots designed to be tabulated in simple optical scanners should be the exclusive voting method, creating a verifiable, auditable paper trail that reduces reliance on electronic systems and strengthens transparency and trust.
Establish a fully state-administered centralized voter registration database. Texas should centralize voter registration under the Secretary of State, replacing the current county-based system with a single statewide voter roll managed through the Texas Election Administration Management database. This system would standardize eligibility decisions, automatically update records and remove duplicates, and integrate state agency data to improve accuracy, accountability, and election integrity across all counties.
Require all mail-in ballots to be received by election day. Texas should require all domestic mail-in ballots to be physically received by election officials on Election Day, eliminating the current postmark-based grace period for late-arriving ballots. This change would reduce disputes and reliance on postal timing, while maintaining required accommodations for military and overseas voters.
Require distinctive state-issued ids for non-citizens. Texas should ensure poll workers can instantly recognize that the ID holder is ineligible to vote by prominently displaying the phrase “NOT ELIGIBLE TO VOTE” on the front of the ID.
Require uniform election dates statewide. Texas should require local elections to be consolidated with the November uniform election date. This change would increase voter turnout, reduce costs and administrative burden, and limit the influence of low-turnout special interest outcomes.
Ban foreign money in ballot initiatives and constitutional amendments. Texas should enact a comprehensive ban on foreign funding of ballot initiatives, referenda, and constitutional amendments. This would close the loophole that allows foreign money—often funneled through domestic nonprofits—to influence critical Texas policies that determine the state’s future freedom and prosperity.
Ensure equal and transparent partisan allocation of election judges and clerks. Texas should require counties to appoint election judges and clerks in a strictly balanced, bipartisan manner, using equal representation from both parties and a clear alternating or proportional selection process. The reform would also mandate transparency in staffing decisions and give the Secretary of State enforcement authority to ensure fair, consistent poll worker allocation statewide.
Require federal-only ballots for voters without documented proof of citizenship. Texas should implement a two-tier voter registration system requiring proof of citizenship for full ballot access, allowing those without documentation to vote only in federal races. To streamline administration and reduce errors, federal-only voters would be assigned to dedicated precincts, ensuring secure, efficient election management while maintaining compliance with federal law.
Ban ranked choice voting: Texas should codify a ban on ranked-choice voting to prevent cities from adopting it and protect one-person-one-vote integrity.
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