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AN ACT
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relating to a statement by the secretary of state regarding the |
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furnishing of certain personal information on an application for a |
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ballot to be voted by mail. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 84.011, Election Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to read as |
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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; |
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(3-a) a space for entering the information required |
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under Section 84.002(a)(1-a); 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, with: |
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(i) a statement informing the applicant |
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that failure to furnish that information does not invalidate the |
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application; and |
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(ii) a statement prescribed by the |
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secretary of state explaining the benefits of furnishing that |
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information, including how that information assists the early |
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voting clerk; |
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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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(c) The secretary of state shall make the statement |
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prescribed by Subsection (a)(4)(C)(ii) available on the |
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secretary's Internet website. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 315 was passed by the House on May 9, |
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2023, by the following vote: Yeas 126, Nays 16, 2 present, not |
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voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 315 was passed by the Senate on May |
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21, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: _____________________ |
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Date |
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_____________________ |
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Governor |