Abbott Targets Voter Registration Change Passed Earlier This Year

Gov. Greg Abbott is seeking to roll back a voter registration provision he signed into law just two months ago.

The measure, added as an amendment to Senate Bill 2217 during the regular session, allows Texans already registered to update their address on Election Day if they move within the same county. While lawmakers approved it with unanimous support, Abbott has now called for a special session to remove it, citing concerns about election security, according to KXAN News.

After Abbott announced “legislation to prohibit same day voter registration in Texas,” State Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, highlighted the fact that Texas does not currently allow same day voter registration, noting, “Don’t be fooled, there is no same-day voter registration in Texas.”

The issue stems from an amendment authored by Rep. Matt Shaheen and attached to Senate Bill 2217 during the regular session. The provision does not allow true same-day voter registration but permits voters already registered in Texas to update their address on Election Day. 

Abbott said the amendment only recently came to his attention, crediting Rep. Valerie Swanson, for flagging it. “That’s something we don’t want in Texas because it opens the door to potential cheating,” Abbott told reporters. “That’s why I put it on the call.”

In response, Rep. Briscoe Cain, filed House Bill 296 to strike the provision. Cain initially voted for the amendment but now argues that counties need time to verify eligibility when voters make last-minute changes.

While Abbott and Cain frame the measure as a risk to election integrity, Shaheen maintains that his amendment is being mischaracterized.

“It is inaccurate to say the amendment was same day voter registration – I am against same day registration,” Shaheen said in a statement to KXAN News. He emphasized the intent was to streamline address changes for voters who remain in the same county.

Still, Shaheen said he is willing to work with Abbott to address concerns.