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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the form, content, and delivery of a voter registration |
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certificate. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 13.144(b), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) If delivery is by mail, the registrar shall: |
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(1) send the certificate by first class mail in a |
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carrier envelope addressed to the mailing address on the |
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applicant's registration application; and |
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(2) include with the certificate a return envelope, |
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properly addressed with postage paid. |
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SECTION 2. Sections 14.002(a) and (b), Election Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) Except as provided by Subsection (d), the registrar |
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shall: |
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(1) deliver a voter's renewal certificate by first |
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class mail in a carrier envelope addressed to the mailing address on |
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the voter's registration application; and |
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(2) include with the certificate a return envelope, |
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properly addressed with postage paid. |
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(b) The [certificate, if mailed without an envelope, or the] |
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envelope containing the certificate must contain an instruction to |
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the postal authorities not to forward it to any other address and to |
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return it to the registrar if the addressee is no longer at the |
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address to which the certificate was mailed. |
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SECTION 3. The heading to Section 15.001, Election Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 15.001. REQUIRED FORM AND CONTENTS. |
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SECTION 4. Section 15.001, Election Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a) Each voter registration certificate issued must |
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contain: |
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(1) the voter's name in the form indicated by the |
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voter, subject to applicable requirements prescribed by Section |
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13.002 and by rule of the secretary of state; |
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(2) the voter's residence address or, if the residence |
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has no address, the address at which the voter receives mail and a |
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concise description of the location of the voter's residence; |
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(3) the year of the voter's birth; |
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(4) the number of the county election precinct in |
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which the voter resides; |
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(5) the voter's effective date of registration if an |
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initial certificate; |
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(6) the voter's registration number; |
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(7) an indication of the period for which the |
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certificate is issued; |
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(8) a statement explaining the circumstances under |
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which the voter will receive a new certificate; |
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(9) a space for stamping the voter's political party |
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affiliation; |
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(10) a statement that voting with the certificate by a |
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person other than the person in whose name the certificate is issued |
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is a felony; |
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(11) a space for the voter's signature; |
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(12) a statement that the voter must sign the |
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certificate personally, if able to sign, immediately on receipt; |
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(13) a space for the voter to correct the information |
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on the certificate and a printed box for a person to check to |
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indicate that the voter is deceased followed by a signature line; |
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(14) in all capital letters, the statement: "IF ANY |
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INFORMATION ON THIS CERTIFICATE CHANGES OR IS INCORRECT, INCLUDING |
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THE ADDRESS OF THE VOTER, CORRECT THE INFORMATION IN THE SPACE |
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PROVIDED, SIGN BELOW, AND RETURN THIS CERTIFICATE TO THE VOTER |
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REGISTRAR. IF THE VOTER HAS DIED, CHECK THE BOX INDICATING THE VOTER |
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IS DECEASED, SIGN BELOW, AND RETURN THIS CERTIFICATE TO THE |
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REGISTRAR [If any information on this certificate changes or is |
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incorrect, correct the information in the space provided, sign |
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below, and return this certificate to the voter registrar]."; |
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(15) the registrar's mailing address and telephone |
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number; and |
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(16) the jurisdictional or distinguishing number for |
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the following territorial units in which the voter resides, as |
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determined by the voter registrar: |
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(A) congressional district; |
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(B) state senatorial district; |
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(C) state representative district; |
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(D) commissioners precinct; |
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(E) justice precinct; |
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(F) city election precinct; and |
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(G) school district election precinct. |
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(a-1) Each voter registration certificate issued shall |
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measure at least 5 by 8-1/2 inches in size. |
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SECTION 5. Section 16.031(b), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) The registrar shall cancel a voter's registration |
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immediately if the registrar: |
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(1) determines [from information received under |
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Section 16.001(c)] that the voter is deceased from information |
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received: |
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(A) under Section 16.001(c); or |
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(B) on a voter registration certificate returned |
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to the registrar with the printed box checked indicating the voter |
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has died; |
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(2) has personal knowledge that the voter is deceased; |
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(3) receives from a person related within the second |
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degree by consanguinity or affinity, as determined under Chapter |
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573, Government Code, to the voter a sworn statement by that person |
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indicating that the voter is deceased; or |
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(4) receives notice from the secretary of state under |
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Section 18.068 that the voter is deceased. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |