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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the registration of voters at a polling place and |
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related procedures. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 12, Election Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 12.007 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 12.007. CERTAIN ELECTION OFFICERS ARE VOTER |
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REGISTRARS. An election officer serving a polling place for early |
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voting by personal appearance is a deputy voter registrar and has |
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the same authority as a regular deputy registrar. |
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SECTION 2. Chapter 62, Election Code, is amended by adding |
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Section 62.0015 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 62.0015. VOTER REGISTRARS MUST BE PRESENT. Two voter |
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registrars must be present at each polling place while the polls are |
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open. |
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SECTION 3. Chapter 63, Election Code, is amended by adding |
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Section 63.010 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 63.010. REGISTRATION AT POLLING PLACE. (a) A person |
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who would be eligible to vote in an election under Section 11.001, |
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but for the requirement to be a registered voter, shall be accepted |
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during voting by personal appearance for voting the ballot for the |
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precinct of the person's residence as shown by the identification |
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presented if, on the day the person offers to vote, the person: |
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(1) submits a voter registration application that |
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complies with Section 13.002 to an election officer at the polling |
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place; and |
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(2) presents as proof of residence a form of photo |
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identification described by Section 63.0101(a) that states the |
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person's current address. |
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(b) The election officer shall return the original proof of |
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residence to the voter. |
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(c) A person voting under this section shall vote a |
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provisional ballot in the manner provided by Section 63.011 except |
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that the person is not required to submit the affidavit under |
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Section 63.011(a). |
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(d) For each registration corresponding to a ballot cast |
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under this section, the voter registrar shall review the |
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application and determine whether the applicant is eligible for |
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registration as provided by Subchapter C, Chapter 13. A |
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registration approved under this subsection takes effect on the |
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date the vote was cast. |
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(e) The secretary of state may by rule: |
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(1) designate additional documents that a person may |
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offer to prove the person's residence to register and vote under |
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this section; and |
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(2) prescribe procedures to implement this section. |
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SECTION 4. Section 65.051(a), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) The early voting ballot board shall verify and count |
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provisional ballots as provided by this subchapter not later than |
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the 10th [ninth] day after the date of an election. |
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SECTION 5. Section 67.003(b), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) Each [Except as provided by Subsection (c), each] local |
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canvassing authority shall convene to conduct the local canvass at |
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the time set by the canvassing authority's presiding officer not |
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later than the 14th [11th] day after election day and not earlier |
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than the later of: |
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(1) the third day after election day; |
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(2) the date on which the early voting ballot board has |
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verified and counted all provisional ballots, if a provisional |
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ballot has been cast in the election; or |
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(3) the date on which all timely received ballots cast |
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from addresses outside of the United States are counted, if a ballot |
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to be voted by mail in the election was provided to a person outside |
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of the United States. |
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SECTION 6. Section 85.031(a), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) For each person entitled to vote an early voting ballot |
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by personal appearance or entitled to register at a polling place, |
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the early voting clerk shall follow the procedure for accepting or |
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registering a regular voter on election day, with the modifications |
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necessary for the conduct of early voting. |
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SECTION 7. Section 67.003(c), Election Code, is repealed. |
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SECTION 8. This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the |
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last day of the legislative session. |