| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the registration of voters at a polling place and |
|
|
related procedures. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 12, Election Code, is |
|
|
amended by adding Section 12.007 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 12.007. CERTAIN ELECTION OFFICERS ARE VOTER |
|
|
REGISTRARS. The registrar shall appoint at least one election |
|
|
officer serving each polling place for early voting by personal |
|
|
appearance or on election day as a regular deputy registrar. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Chapter 63, Election Code, is amended by adding |
|
|
Section 63.010 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 63.010. REGISTRATION AT POLLING PLACE; VOTING |
|
|
PROCEDURES. (a) Other applicable provisions of this code apply to |
|
|
the conduct of voting and to the registration of voters under this |
|
|
section to the extent those provisions do not conflict with this |
|
|
section. |
|
|
(b) A person who would be eligible to vote in an election |
|
|
under Section 11.001, but for the requirement to be a registered |
|
|
voter, shall be accepted for voting at a polling place at which the |
|
|
person would be allowed to vote if registered if, on the day the |
|
|
person offers to vote, the person: |
|
|
(1) submits a voter registration application that |
|
|
complies with Section 13.002 to a voter registrar at the polling |
|
|
place; |
|
|
(2) presents as proof of identification: |
|
|
(A) a Texas driver's license, including a |
|
|
temporary license or instruction permit, or personal |
|
|
identification card issued to the person by the Department of |
|
|
Public Safety that states the person's current address on the day |
|
|
the person seeks to vote; or |
|
|
(B) a utility bill addressed to the person dated |
|
|
not earlier than the 30th day before the date the person seeks to |
|
|
vote, and: |
|
|
(i) a Texas driver's license, including a |
|
|
temporary license or instruction permit, or personal |
|
|
identification card issued to the person by the Department of |
|
|
Public Safety, regardless of whether the address stated on the |
|
|
license or card is current on the day the person seeks to vote; |
|
|
(ii) a United States passport issued to the |
|
|
person; or |
|
|
(iii) a United States military |
|
|
identification card that contains the person's photograph; and |
|
|
(3) executes an affidavit stating that the person: |
|
|
(A) is eligible to vote in the election; and |
|
|
(B) is voting only once in the election. |
|
|
(c) Persons voting under this section shall be processed |
|
|
separately at the polling place from persons who are voting under |
|
|
regular procedures. |
|
|
(d) The secretary of state shall adopt rules to ensure the |
|
|
accountability of election officers and to fairly implement this |
|
|
section. |
|
|
SECTION 3. Section 85.031(a), Election Code, is amended to |
|
|
read as follows: |
|
|
(a) For each person entitled to vote an early voting ballot |
|
|
by personal appearance or who is entitled to register at a polling |
|
|
place, the early voting clerk shall follow the procedure for |
|
|
accepting a regular voter on election day, with the modifications |
|
|
necessary for the conduct of early voting. |
|
|
SECTION 4. The secretary of state shall adopt rules as |
|
|
required by Section 63.010, Election Code, as added by this Act, not |
|
|
later than February 1, 2022. |
|
|
SECTION 5. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
|
|
an election for which early voting by personal appearance begins on |
|
|
or after February 1, 2022. |
|
|
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |