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          AN ACT
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        relating to signature verification on an early voting ballot voted  | 
      
      
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        by mail. | 
      
      
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               BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | 
      
      
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               SECTION 1.  Section 87.041(e), Election Code, is amended to  | 
      
      
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        read as follows: | 
      
      
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               (e)  In making the determination under Subsection (b)(2),  | 
      
      
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        the board may also compare the signatures with any two or more  | 
      
      
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        signatures of the voter made within the preceding six years and on  | 
      
      
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        file with the voter registrar [the signature on the voter's 
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          registration application] to confirm that the signatures are those  | 
      
      
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        of the same person but may not use the signatures [registration 
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          application signature] to determine that the signatures are not  | 
      
      
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        those of the same person. | 
      
      
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               SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives  | 
      
      
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        a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as  | 
      
      
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        provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this  | 
      
      
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        Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this  | 
      
      
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        Act takes effect September 1, 2013. | 
      
      
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        ______________________________ | 
        ______________________________ | 
      
      
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           President of the Senate | 
        Speaker of the House      | 
      
      
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               I certify that H.B. No. 2233 was passed by the House on May  | 
      
      
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        10, 2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 143, Nays 0, 2 present, not  | 
      
      
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        voting. | 
      
      
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        ______________________________ | 
      
      
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        Chief Clerk of the House    | 
      
      
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               I certify that H.B. No. 2233 was passed by the Senate on May  | 
      
      
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        22, 2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0. | 
      
      
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        ______________________________ | 
      
      
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        Secretary of the Senate     | 
      
      
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        APPROVED:  _____________________ | 
      
      
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                           Date           | 
      
      
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                  _____________________ | 
      
      
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                         Governor        |