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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the elements of the criminal offense of election fraud; |
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increasing criminal penalties. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 276.013(a) and (b), Election Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly or |
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intentionally makes any effort to: |
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(1) influence the independent exercise of the vote of |
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another in the presence of the ballot or during the voting process; |
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(2) cause a voter to become registered, a ballot to be |
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obtained, or a vote to be cast under false pretenses; [or] |
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(3) count invalid votes that the person knows to be |
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invalid or alter a report to include invalid votes that the person |
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knows to be invalid; |
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(4) fail to count valid votes that the person knows to |
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be valid or alter a report to exclude valid votes that the person |
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knows to be valid; or |
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(5) [(3)] cause any intentionally misleading |
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statement, representation, or information to be provided: |
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(A) to an election official; or |
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(B) on an application for ballot by mail, carrier |
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envelope, or any other official election-related form or document. |
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(b) An offense under this section is a felony of the second |
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degree [Class A misdemeanor]. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |