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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the opportunity to correct a vote by mail application. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 84.011(a), Election Code, as effective |
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September 1, 2021, is amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The officially prescribed application form for an early |
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voting ballot must include: |
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(1) immediately preceding the signature space the |
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statement: "I certify that the information given in this |
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application is true, and I understand that giving false information |
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in this application is a crime."; |
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(2) a statement informing the applicant of the |
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offenses prescribed by Sections 84.003 and 84.004; |
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(3) spaces for entering an applicant's voter |
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registration number and county election precinct of registration, |
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with a statement informing the applicant that failure to furnish |
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that information does not invalidate the application; and |
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(4) on an application for a ballot to be voted by mail: |
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(A) a space for an applicant applying on the |
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ground of absence from the county of residence to indicate the date |
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on or after which the applicant can receive mail at the address |
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outside the county; |
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(B) a space for indicating the fact that an |
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applicant whose application is signed by a witness cannot make the |
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applicant's mark and a space for indicating the relationship or |
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lack of relationship of the witness to the applicant; |
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(C) a space for entering an applicant's telephone |
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number and e-mail address, with a statement informing the applicant |
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that failure to furnish that information does not invalidate the |
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application; |
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(D) a space or box for an applicant applying on |
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the ground of age or disability to indicate that the address to |
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which the ballot is to be mailed is the address of a facility or |
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relative described by Section 84.002(a)(3), if applicable; |
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(E) a space or box for an applicant applying on |
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the ground of confinement in jail or involuntary civil commitment |
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to indicate that the address to which the ballot is to be mailed is |
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the address of a relative described by Section 84.002(a)(4) or (7), |
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if applicable; |
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(F) a space for an applicant applying on the |
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ground of age or disability to indicate if the application is an |
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application under Section 86.0015; |
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(G) spaces for entering the signature, printed |
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name, and residence address of any person assisting the applicant; |
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(H) a statement informing the applicant of the |
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condition prescribed by Section 81.005; and |
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(I) a statement informing the applicant of the |
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requirement prescribed by Section 86.003(c). |
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SECTION 2. Section 86.001, Election Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (f) to read as follows: |
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(f) The early voting clerk, before rejecting an application |
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on the basis of a clerical error, shall make a reasonable effort to |
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contact the applicant by telephone or e-mail at any telephone |
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number or e-mail address provided on the application to notify the |
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applicant of the error. The applicant may appear at the early |
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voting clerk's office to make clerical corrections to the |
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application or submit a new application after receiving notice |
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under this section. If the applicant does not appear at the early |
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voting clerk's office before the fourth day after the date the early |
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voting clerk contacted the applicant at the telephone number or |
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e-mail address provided on the application, the clerk may reject |
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the application. The early voting clerk shall attach to and |
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maintain with the original application any records created or |
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submitted under this subsection. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the |
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last day of the legislative session. |