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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to electronic voter registration and electronic |
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submission of an application for an early voting ballot by mail. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 13, Election Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 13.009 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 13.009. ELECTRONIC VOTER REGISTRATION. (a) The |
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secretary of state shall implement a program to allow a person to |
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complete a voter registration application over the Internet from |
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the official website of this state. The websites of the secretary |
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of state and the Department of Public Safety must also provide a |
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link to the location of the application on the official website of |
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this state. |
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(b) An applicant for electronic voter registration who has a |
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driver's license or personal identification card issued in this |
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state, regardless of whether the license or card is unexpired, |
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must: |
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(1) attest to the truth of the information provided on |
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the application by affirmatively accepting the information as true; |
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and |
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(2) affirmatively consent to the use of the signature |
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on the applicant's driver's license or personal identification card |
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for voter registration purposes. |
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(c) An applicant for electronic voter registration who does |
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not have a driver's license or personal identification card issued |
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in this state must: |
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(1) attest to the truth of the information provided on |
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the application by affirmatively accepting the information as true; |
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and |
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(2) print a registration application from the website |
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the applicant is using to register, sign the application, and mail |
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it to the registrar. |
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(d) For each application submitted under Subsection (b), |
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the program must require that a digital copy of the applicant's |
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signature be obtained from the Department of Public Safety. |
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(e) For each application submitted under Subsection (c), |
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the program must provide the applicant with: |
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(1) a registration application that the applicant can |
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print from the registration website, sign, and mail to the |
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registrar as required under Subsection (c)(2); and |
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(2) information about how the applicant can obtain a |
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driver's license or personal identification card from the |
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Department of Public Safety. |
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(f) An application submitted under this section is |
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considered for all purposes an application submitted by mail under |
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this title. |
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(g) The secretary of state shall adopt rules as necessary to |
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implement this section, including rules to provide for additional |
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security measures necessary to ensure the accuracy and integrity of |
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applications submitted electronically. |
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(h) The rules adopted under Subsection (g) must require |
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that: |
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(1) the Internet website through which a person may |
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complete a voter registration application include a description of |
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the offense described by Section 13.007 in a conspicuous location |
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on the website near the place where the person begins or submits the |
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application; and |
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(2) the state electronic Internet portal project be |
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used to authenticate the identity of a person who submits an |
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application electronically under this section. |
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SECTION 2. Sections 84.001(b) and (d), Election Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) An application must be in writing and signed by the |
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applicant. Except as provided by Section 84.0091, an [An] |
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electronic signature is not permitted. |
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(d) An application must be submitted [by mail] to the early |
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voting clerk for the election who serves the election precinct of |
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the applicant's residence. |
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SECTION 3. Section 84.007(a), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) Except as provided by Sections 84.008, [and] 84.009, and |
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84.0091, an application for a ballot to be voted by mail must be |
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submitted as provided by this section. |
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SECTION 4. Subchapter A, Chapter 84, Election Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 84.0091 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 84.0091. SUBMITTING APPLICATION FOR BALLOT VOTED BY |
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MAIL: ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION. The secretary of state shall |
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implement a program to allow a person to complete an application for |
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an early voting ballot by mail over the Internet from the official |
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website of this state. The program must: |
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(1) permit an applicant to electronically sign the |
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application; |
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(2) deliver a completed application to the early |
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voting clerk for the election who serves the election precinct of |
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the applicant's residence; and |
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(3) permit an applicant to check the status of the |
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applicant's application. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the |
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last day of the legislative session. |