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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to electronic submission of an application for an early |
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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. 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 2. 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 3. 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 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |