A bill under consideration by the Texas legislature, HB 574, makes election fraud in the state a second degree felony, rather than a class A misdemeanor.

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the prevention of fraud in the conduct of an election.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Sections 276.013(a) and (b), Election Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 276.013. ELECTION FRAUD. (a) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly or intentionally makes any effort to:

(1) influence the independent exercise of the vote of another in the presence of the ballot or during the voting process;

(2) cause a voter to become registered, a ballot to be obtained, or a vote to be cast under false pretenses; [or]

(3) count invalid votes or alter a report to include invalid votes;

(4) fail to count valid votes or alter a report to exclude valid votes; or

(5) cause any intentionally misleading statement, representation, or information to be provided:

(A) to an election official; or

(B) on an application for ballot by mail, carrier envelope, or any other official election-related form or document.

(b) An offense under this section is a felony of the second degree.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.

Election Fraud