The Texas Senate has passed Senate Bill 1209, a bill designed to reduce the number of election days in the state, thereby saving taxpayer money and improving election efficiency. Authored by Senator Bryan Hughes (R), the bill seeks to consolidate elections into fewer dates, with the goal of minimizing low-turnout elections that often prove costly and resource-intensive.
Sen. Hughes emphasized the need for fewer election days, citing the example of Harris County, which held seven separate elections in 2022. The May election date in Harris County, he noted, drew less than five percent of voters, compared to 43 percent turnout during the November election.
“Low turnout elections are costly and they’re resource-intensive,” Hughes said. “Since each election has substantial fixed costs, the cost per vote increases significantly.” He added that frequent elections overburden local election officials, making it harder to recruit enough volunteers to conduct fair elections.
SB 1209 would reduce elections to just the November general election and the March primary elections. The bill also allows for a primary runoff if needed, as well as any necessary special election dates. Sen. Hughes argued that moving all elections to the November time frame would help reduce the amount of time between the March primaries and any runoff elections, cutting the gap to just 70 days — two weeks shorter than the previous year.
A major provision of the bill is the elimination of the May uniform election date. This change would streamline the election schedule, reducing the administrative burden on counties and saving taxpayer dollars.
By consolidating election dates, SB 1209 aims to increase voter participation by focusing elections on the months with the highest turnout. The bill is now set to be considered by the Texas House for further review. If passed, it could mark a significant shift in how elections are administered in the state, making the process more efficient and cost-effective for taxpayers.
