Harris County warns SB 2753 could raise election costs 30% and require doubling staff

Harris County's chief elections official told the House Committee on Elections that Senate Bill 2753 would materially increase local election costs and staffing needs in large counties.

"SB 27 53 could increase the cost of administering a large countywide election, such as a presidential election, by nearly 30%," Tanisha Hudspeth, Harris County Clerk, testified. Hudspeth said the county would need to double full‑time elections staff — from under 200 employees to roughly double that — and would need greater resources for call centers, ADA support and field operations.

Hudspeth also warned that combining early and Election Day reporting will delay the familiar 7 p.m. release of early totals. "Because early in person ballots and ballots by mail will no longer be reported shortly after 7PM on election day, results will be released even later than Texans have come to expect," she said. She urged the Committee to consider funding for county implementation and to allow more time for education and operational planning.

Hudspeth and other county officials said they will prepare a legislative "wish list" with specific statutory and funding changes for the next session.