SRC-BWC H.B. 2509 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 2509 By: Danburg (Shapiro) State Affairs 5/2/2001 Engrossed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, several provisions of the Election Code may cause unintended or unnecessary difficulties for voters and election officials. Some of the provisions regarding early voting may serve to prohibit the participation of disabled voters. Other provisions create difficulties for voters or candidates attempting to supply information when a deadline conflicts with a weekend or holiday. During the recent presidential election, the State of Florida faced problems concerning inaccurate felony conviction information provided to voting officials. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice provides notice of felony convictions, but only for those felons who serve time in prison, which may also cause inaccuracies. Many of the problems identified in the Election Code have been addressed by opinions and recommendations provided by the secretary of state. H.B. 2509 provides a comprehensive revision of the Election Code to codify the secretary of state's recommendations. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the secretary of state in SECTION 47 (Section 172.127, Election Code) and to a political party in SECTION 51 (Section 181.0615, Election Code) in this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 1.006, Election Code, to provide that if the last day for performance of an act is extended under this section, the extended date is used for any computations as to other dates, deadlines, and procedures that are required to be made in relation to the last day for performance of the act. Provides that a declaration of ineligibility of a candidate is considered to be the performance of an act under this section for purposes of causing the candidate's name to be omitted from the ballot. Provides that the filing of a document, including a withdrawal request or resignation, is considered to be the performance of an act under this section for purposes of creating a vacancy to be filled at a subsequent election. Provides that the death of a person is not considered to be the performance of an act under this section. SECTION 2. Amends Section 2.025, Election Code, to require a runoff to be held not earlier than the 20th or later than the 45th, rather than the 30th, day after the date the final canvass of the main election is completed, except as otherwise provided by this code, rather than Subsection (b). Authorizes a runoff election date later than the period prescribed by the section to be prescribed by a home-rule city charter. Deletes text that authorized a runoff election to be held after the period prescribed by law but not later than the 45th day after the date the final canvass of the main election is completed only under certain circumstances. Makes a conforming change. SECTION 3. Amends Section 2.051(b), Election Code, to provide that in the case of an election in which any members of the political subdivision's governing body are elected from territorial units such as single-member districts, this subchapter applies to the election in a particular territorial unit, rather than a single member district if each candidate whose name is to appear on the ballot in the territorial unit, rather than district, is unopposed and no at-large proposition or opposed at-large race is to appear on the ballot. Provides that this chapter applies to an unopposed at-large race in such an election regardless of whether an opposed race is to appear on the ballot in a particular territorial unit. Deletes text regarding the meeting of requirements prescribed by Subsection (a). SECTION 4. Amends Section 2.053(c), Election Code, to require a certificate of election to be issued to each candidate in the same manner and at the same time as provided for a candidate elected at the election. Requires the candidate to qualify for the office in the same manner as provided for a candidate elected at the election. SECTION 5. Amends Section 13.004, Election Code, as follows: Sec. 13.004. New heading: RECORDING AND DISCLOSURE OF TELEPHONE NUMBER OR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER BY REGISTRAR. Provides that a social security number or telephone number furnished on a registration application is confidential and does not constitute public information for purposes of Chapter 552 (Public Information), Government Code. Requires the registrar to ensure that the social security and telephone numbers are excluded from disclosure. SECTION 6. Amends Section 13.072(c), Election Code, to make a conforming change. SECTION 7. Amends Section 13.073, Election Code, by adding Subsection (c) to provide that the original date of submission of the incomplete application is considered to be the date of submission to the registrar for the purpose of determining the effective date of registration, if the registrar rejects an application for incompleteness but receives a competed application not later than the 10th day after the date the notice is delivered under Subsection (a) or the date the incomplete application is returned under Subsection (b), as applicable. SECTION 8. Amends Section 13.122(a), Election Code, to require each official form to include a statement indicating that the omission, rather than furnishing, of the applicant's driver's license number, personal identification card number, telephone number, social security number, or, rather than and sex, does not affect the validity of the registration application, rather than is optional. SECTION 9. Amends Section 15.025, Election Code, as follows: Sec. 15.025. New heading: EFFECTIVE DATE OF CERTAIN CHANGES IN REGISTRATION INFORMATION. Provides that the registration of a voter described by this section whose information, rather than residence, is changed on the registration records becomes effective as to the change on the 30th day after the date the voter submits to the registrar a notice of a change in registration information under Section15.021 or a response under Section 15.053, indicating the change, rather than change of residence. Provides that a change in registration information covered by this section is effective for purposes of early voting if it will be effective on election day. Provides that for purposes of determining the effective date of a change in registration information covered by this section, a document submitted by mail is considered to be submitted to the registrar on the date it is placed with postage prepaid and properly addressed in the United States mail. Provides that the date indicated by the post office cancellation mark is considered to be the date the document was placed in the mail unless proven otherwise. Provides that if the 30th day before the date of an election is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal state or national holiday, the document is considered to be timely if it is submitted to the registrar on or before the next regular business day. Makes conforming changes. SECTION 10. Amends the heading to Chapter 15C, Election Code, to read as follows: SUBCHAPTER C. CONFIRMATION OF REGISTRATION INFORMATION SECTION 11. Amends Section 15.051(a), Election Code, to require the registrar to deliver to the voter's address a written confirmation notice requesting confirmation of the voter's death, if the registrar receives information relating to the voter's death from a source other than a source described by Section 16.001 or 16.031(b). SECTION 12. Amends Section 15.052, Election Code, to require the officially prescribed form for a confirmation notice requesting confirmation of a voter's current residence to include certain information. Requires the officially prescribed form for a confirmation notice of a voter's death to include certain information. SECTION 13. Amends Section 15.053(a), Election Code, to require a voter who is incorrectly referenced as deceased to submit to the registrar a written, signed response to the notice notifying the registrar that the information received by the registrar relating to the voter's death is incorrect, not later than the 60th day after the date a confirmation notice requesting confirmation of a voter's death is mailed. Makes a conforming change. SECTION 14. Amends Section 16.003, Election Code, to require each month the Department of Public Safety (department), rather than the institutional division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, to prepare an abstract of each final judgment received by the department posted to its criminal history file convicting a person 18 years of age or older who is a resident of the state of a felony. Requires the department to file each abstract with the secretary of state not later than the 10th day of the month following the month in which the abstract is prepared. Requires the secretary of state to file each abstract received under this section with the voter registrar of the person's county of residence not later than the 10th day of the month following the month in which the abstract is received under this section. Makes a conforming change. SECTION 15. Amends Sections 16.033(c) and (d), Election Code, to require the notice to include a warning that the voter's registration is subject to cancellation if the registrar does not receive an appropriate reply on or before the 30th, rather than 60th, day after the date the notice is mailed. Makes a conforming change. SECTION 16. Amends Sections 16.0332(a) and (b), Election Code, to require the registrar to deliver to each registered voter whose name appears on the list a written notice requiring the voter to submit to the registrar proof of United States citizenship in the form of a certified copy of the voter's birth certificate, United States passport, or certificate of naturalization or any other form prescribed by the secretary of state. Requires the registrar to cancel the voter's registration, if a voter fails to submit to the registrar proof of citizenship on or before the 30th, rather than 31, day after the date the notice is mailed. SECTION 17. Amends Section 16.036(a), Election Code, to make a conforming change. SECTION 18. Amends Section 18.008(a), Election Code, to require the registrar to furnish the list directly to the person requesting it. Prohibits the registrar from requiring the person requesting the list to contact the company or other entity to obtain a copy of the list, if the county has contracted with a computer service company or other private business entity for services related to the lists required under this subchapter. SECTION 19. Amends Section 19.001(a), Election Code, to make a conforming change. SECTION 20. Amends Section 20.035, Election Code, to require an application, submitted after the 34th day and before the 29th day before the date of an election held on a uniform election date or the date of a general primary election or the date of a runoff primary election in which any qualified voter of the county is eligible to vote, to be delivered not later than 5 p.m. of the 29th day before election day. Makes a conforming change. SECTION 21. Amends Section 20.063, Election Code, by adding Subsection (e) to require the department to indicate on a temporary license or card that the applicant has completed a voter registration application form provided by the department, if an applicant for an original or renewal driver's license, personal identification card, or duplicate or corrected license or card, completes a voter registration application form provided by the department and the department issues a temporary license or card. SECTION 22. Amends Section 63.006, Election Code, by adding Subsection (c) to require a voter who, when offering to vote, presents a temporary license or card that indicates that the voter has completed a voter registration application as provided by Section 20.063 (e) to be accepted for voting under this section under certain circumstances. SECTION 23. Amends Section 63.008, Election Code, to require a voter who, when offering to vote, presents a temporary license or card that indicates that the voter has completed a voter registration application as provided by Section 20.063(e) and whose name is on the list of registered voters for the precinct in which the voter is offering to vote to be accepted for voting under Section 63.001 under certain circumstances. SECTION 24. Amends Section 63.0101, Election Code, to provide that an affidavit executed by a person who is working at the polling place that attests to the identity of the voter, if the voter does not have documentation described by Subdivisions (1) - (8) in the voter's possession at the polling place at the time of offering to vote, is acceptable as proof of identification under this chapter. SECTION 25. Amends Section 67.016(e), Election Code, to require the authority preparing a certificate of election to promptly deliver it to the person for whom it is prepared, subject to Section 212.0331. SECTION 26. Amends Section 83.006(b), Election Code, to require a person in order to be eligible for appointment as early voting clerk under this section, to meet the requirements for eligibility for service as a presiding election judge, except that an appointee who is a permanent employee of the political subdivision and a qualified voter of any territory is not required to be a qualified voter of the political subdivision. SECTION 27. Amends Section 83.007(b), Election Code, to require a person, in order to be eligible for appointment as early voting clerk under this section, to meet the requirements for eligibility for service as a presiding election judge, except that an appointee who is a permanent employee of the authority ordering the election and a qualified voter of any territory is not required to be a qualified voter of the territory covered by the election. SECTION 28. Amends Section 83.032(b), Election Code, to require a temporary deputy, in order to be eligible for appointment as a deputy early voting clerk under this section, to meet the requirements for eligibility for service as a presiding election judge, except that an appointee who is a permanent employee of the county or city, as applicable, and a qualified voter of any territory is not required to be a qualified voter of the county or city, as applicable. SECTION 29. Amends Section 84.032, Election Code, to authorize an applicant to submit a request at any time after the voting ballot is returned to the early voting clerk as a marked ballot and before the ballot is delivered to the early voting ballot board (board) by appearing in person and executing an affidavit that the applicant did not mark that ballot. Makes a conforming change. SECTION 30. Amends Section 86.003(c), Election Code, to provide that the address to which the balloting materials must be addressed is the address at which the voter is registered to vote, or the registered mailing address if different, unless certain grounds for voting by mail exist. SECTION 31. Amends Section 86.007(d), Election Code, to require a marked ballot voted by mail that arrives after the time prescribed by Subsection (a) to be counted if the ballot arrives at the address on the carrier envelope not later than the second day after the date of an election other than the general election for state and county officers or the fifth day after the date of a joint election if the political subdivision's ballot is combined with the ballot for the general election for state and county officers. SECTION 32. Amends Section 87.0241, Election Code, to prohibit the board from counting early voting ballots until the polls open on election day, or in an election conducted by an authority of a county with a population of 100,000 or more or conducted jointly with such a county, the end of the period for early voting by personal appearance. Requires the secretary of state to prescribe any procedures necessary for implementing this section in regard to elections described by this section. SECTION 33. Amends Chapter 87B, Election Code, by adding Section 87.0242, as follows: Sec. 87.0242. NOTICE OF BOARD MEETING. Requires notice of the date and time of a board meeting to be posted at the main early voting polling place not later than the fifth day before the date of the meeting. Requires the notice to remain posted continuously until the end of the meeting. Requires the notice to be posted by certain individuals. Requires the presiding judge of the board to announce at the end of the meeting the date and time the meeting will reconvene and requires the appropriate authority to post an amended notice at the same location as the original notice, if the board is required to reconvene the meeting for which a notice is posted. SECTION 34. Amends Section 87.027, Election Code, to require a signature verification committee to be appointed in the general election for state and county officers on submission to the early voting clerk of a written request for the committee by at least 15 registered voters of the county. Requires the request to be submitted not later than the preceding October 1, and a request submitted by mail is considered to be submitted at the time of its receipt by the clerk. Requires the appropriate authority to appoint the members of the committee and designate one of the appointees as chair, subject to the section, not later than the fifth day after the date the early voting clerk issues the order calling for the appointment of a signature verification committee, or not later than October 15 for a committee required under this section. Requires each county chair of a political party with a nominee or aligned candidate on the ballot, in an election in which party alignment is indicated on the ballot, to submit to the appointing authority a list of names of persons eligible to serve on the signature verification committee. Requires the authority to appoint at least two persons from each list to serve as members of the committee. Requires the same number of members to be appointed from each list. Requires the authority to appoint the chair of the committee from the list provided by the political party whose nominee for governor received the most votes in the county in the most recent gubernatorial general election. Requires a vacancy on the committee to be filled to ensure the political party balance on the committee by appointment from the original list or from a new list submitted by the appropriate county chair. Authorizes the verification committee chair to designate subcommittees of the committee members to compare signatures under this section, if the committee chair determines that the ballots are so numerous that the full committee cannot review each carrier envelope certificate and ballot application independently. Requires the subcommittees to be balanced as equally as possible by members of each political party required to nominate candidates by primary election, in an election in which party alignment is indicated on the ballot. Makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes. SECTION 35. Amends Section 87.041(b), Election Code, to authorize a ballot to be accepted only if the address to which the ballot was mailed to the voter is an address that is otherwise required by Sections 84.002 and 86.003. SECTION 36. Amends Section 87.101, Election Code, as follows: Sec. 87.101. New heading: DELIVERY OF BALLOTS TO COUNTING STATION. Requires the board, on the direction of the presiding judge, to deliver to the central counting station the container for the early voting electronic system ballots that are to be counted by automatic tabulating equipment at a central counting station. Requires the board to make the delivery without opening the containers and in accordance with the procedure applicable to electronic system ballots cast at a precinct polling place. Deletes text that required the ballots to be removed from the container and removed the ballots from their envelopes. SECTION 37. Amends Section 87.1231, Election Code, to delete text that prohibited the early voting clerk from reporting vote totals under the section for an election precinct in which fewer than five votes are cast during the early voting period. SECTION 38. Amends Section 87.125(a), Election Code, to require the board to convene to count ballots voted by mail described by Section 86.007(d) at the time set by the presiding judge of the board: on the sixth day after the date of a general election for state and county officers; on the second, rather than fifth, day after the date of a primary election, rather than primary or special election, at a time following the last mail delivery, or on an earlier day or at an earlier time if the early voting clerk certifies that all ballots mailed from outside the United States have been received; or not earlier than the third day or later than the fifth day after the date of an election other than an election described by this section. SECTION 39. Amends Section 102.003(b), Election Code, to authorize an application to be submitted after the last day of the period for early voting by personal appearance and before 5 p.m., rather than 2 p.m., on election day. SECTION 40. Amends Section 104.003, Election Code, to require voting under this chapter to be conducted on election day, beginning at 7 a.m., rather than 8 a.m., and concluding at 7 p.m., rather than 2 p.m., at the main early voting polling place. SECTION 41. Amends Section 112.002(a), Election Code, to provide that a person, after changing residence to another county, is eligible to vote a limited ballot by personal appearance during the early voting period or by mail under certain circumstances. Deletes text that allows for a person to vote by mail if the date of the election is not more than 90 days after the new residence is established. SECTION 42. Amends Section 121.003, Election Code, by adding Subdivision (17) to define "direct recording electronic voting machine." SECTION 43. Amends Chapter 144, Election Code, by adding Section 144.006, as follows: Sec. 144.006. FILING DEADLINE FOR DECLARED WRITE-IN CANDIDATE. Requires a declaration of write-in candidacy, except as otherwise provided by law, to be filed not later than 5 p.m. of the fifth day after the date an application for a place on the ballot is required to be filed in an election in which the filing deadline for an application for a place on the ballot is the 45th day before election day and write-in votes may be counted only for names appearing on a list of declared write-in candidates. SECTION 44. Amends Sections 146.051 and 146.055, Election Code, to make a reference to "general election" as "election." Makes a conforming change. SECTION 45. Amends Chapter 146, Election Code, by adding Subchapter D, as follows: SUBCHAPTER D. WRITE-IN CANDIDATE IN SPECIAL ELECTION TO FILL VACANCY IN LEGISLATURE Sec. 146.081. CANDIDATE'S NAME REQUIRED TO APPEAR ON LIST. Prohibits a write-in vote, in a special election to fill a vacancy in the legislature, from being counted unless the name written in appears on the list of write-in candidates. Sec. 146.082. DECLARATION OF WRITE-IN CANDIDACY REQUIRED. Requires a candidate, in order to be entitled to a place on the list of write-in candidates, to file a declaration of write-in candidacy with the secretary of state. Sec. 146.083. FILING DEADLINE. Requires a declaration of write-in candidacy to be filed not later than 5 p.m. of the fifth day after the date an application for a place on the ballot is required to be filed. Sec. 146.084. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER CODE PROVISIONS. Provides that Subchapter B applies to write-in voting in a special election to fill a vacancy in the legislature except to the extent of a conflict with this subchapter. SECTION 46. Amends Sections 172.126(a) and (c), Election Code, to require the decision to conduct a joint general primary election or runoff primary election, as applicable, to be made by majority vote of the full membership of the commissioners court and with the unanimous approval of the county clerk and the county chair of each political party required to nominate candidates by primary election. Requires one set of election officers to conduct the primary elections at each polling place. Requires each county chair to deliver to the county clerk a list of the names of the election judges and clerks for that party by a certain time. Provides that the presiding judge of each party, or alternate judge if applicable, serves as a co-judge for the precinct. Prohibits a joint primary, if an eligible presiding co-judge and alternate co-judge cannot be found to serve for a particular party in a precinct, to be conducted in that precinct, and requires that precinct to be consolidated with another precinct that has an eligible presiding co-judge and alternate co-judge to serve for each party. SECTION 47. Amends Chapter 172E, Election Code, by adding Section 172.127, as follows: Sec. 172.127. CONDUCT OF PRIMARY ELECTION IN COUNTY WITHOUT COUNTY CHAIR. Provides that this section applies, notwithstanding and in addition to other applicable provisions of this code to the conduct of a primary election in a county for a political party that meets certain conditions,. Requires the county clerk to supervise the overall conduct of the primary election for a political party covered by this section. Requires the county clerk to perform the duties and functions prescribed by this code for the county chair or county executive committee in conducting the primary election and in attending to related electoral matters. Requires the state chair of the affected political party to perform the duties and functions prescribed by this code for the county chair or county executive committee in processing applications for a place on the ballot, certifying candidates' names, and attending to political party matters related to the conduct of the primary election. Requires the state chair to certify the appropriate candidates' names to the county clerk for placement on the general primary election ballot in accordance with procedures prescribed by the secretary of state. Requires the regular polling places designated for the general election for state and county officers to be used for each precinct in the primary election unless the precinct is one that is consolidated. Requires the county clerk, in that case, to designate the location. Requires at least one polling place to be located in each commissioners precinct, except that in a county with a population of less than 100,000, the county is authorized to be served instead by one polling place located at the county seat. Requires the secretary of state by rule to prescribe the procedures necessary to implement this section and to facilitate the orderly and proper conduct of a primary election covered by this section. SECTION 48. Amends Chapter 173A, Election Code, by adding Section 173.012, as follows: Sec. 173.012. PRIMARY FINANCING IN COUNTY WITHOUT COUNTY CHAIR. Provides that this section applies to the financing of a primary election covered by Section 172.127, notwithstanding and in addition to other applicable provisions of this code. Authorizes state funds to be spent to pay expenses incurred by a county in connection with the primary election. Requires the county clerk to submit to the secretary of state a written statement of estimated expenses to be incurred in connection with the primary election. Requires the county clerk to file with the secretary of state a sworn report containing an itemized list of the actual expenses incurred by the county clerk in connection with the general and runoff primaries. Requires the secretary of state to prescribe the rules necessary to implement this section and to facilitate the orderly and proper financing of a primary election covered by this section. SECTION 49. Amends Section 173.011(b), Election Code, to require any surplus remaining in a county primary fund to be remitted to the secretary of state, rather than county clerk. Deletes text that authorized surplus primary funds received by the county clerk to be used only for paying the remaining expenses of the joint primary election. SECTION 50. Amends Section 174.021, Election Code, as follows: Sec. 174.021. SELECTION OF DELEGATES TO COUNTY AND SENATORIAL DISTRICT CONVENTIONS; USE OF PARTY RULES. Authorizes party rules, notwithstanding this section, to provide for the holding of a precinct convention in a manner other than that provided by this subchapter, including the date, hour, place, or other procedures necessary to hold the convention. SECTION 51. Amends Chapter 181C, Election Code, by adding Section 181.0615, as follows: Sec. 181.0615. USE OF PARTY RULES FOR PRECINCT, COUNTY, OR DISTRICT CONVENTIONS. Authorizes a political party by rule to provide for the holding of a precinct convention in a manner other than that provided by this subchapter, including the date, hour, place, or other procedures necessary to hold a convention, notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter. SECTION 52. Amends Section 212.001, Election Code, to require a recount document submitted under this title to be accompanied by a deposit as provided by Subchapter E. SECTION 53. Amends Chapter 212B, Election Code, by adding Section 212.0331, as follows: Sec. 212.0331. EFFECT OF PETITION SUBMISSION ON QUALIFYING FOR OFFICE. Provides that the submission of a recount petition delays the issuance of a certificate of election and qualification for the office involved in the recount pending completion of the recount. Prohibits a candidate from qualifying for an office involved in a recount before completion of the recount. Provides that this section does not affect a candidate who has received a certificate of election and qualified for an office before the submission of a recount petition involving the office. Requires the secretary of state to prescribe any procedures necessary to implement this section. SECTION 54. Amends Section 212.088(a), Election Code, to provide that the deadline for submitting an expedited recount petition is extended to 10 a.m., rather than 9 a.m., of the next regular business day, if the deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal state holiday. SECTION 55. Amends Section 212.111(b), Election Code, to require a deposit to be in the form of cash or a cashier's check or money order made payable to the recount coordinator. Deletes text that provided for an exception for this section. SECTION 56. Amends Section 212.112(a), Election Code, to provide that the amount of the recount deposit is determined by the number of precincts for which a recount is requested in the document that the deposit accompanies, including two times the maximum hourly rate of pay for election judges, for a precinct in which voting machines, including direct recording electronic voting machines, were used and no write-in votes are to be recounted, or only the write-in votes cast in connection with a voting system are to be recounted. SECTION 57. Amends Section 213.013(e), Election Code, to require a person, in order to be eligible to serve as a representative at a recount, to satisfy the eligibility requirements prescribed by this code for watchers in the election. SECTION 58. Amends Section 277.002(a), Election Code, to require a petition, for a petition signature to be valid, to contain in addition to the signature, the signer's date of birth or, rather than and, the signer's voter registration number and, if the territory from which signatures must be obtained is situated in more than one county, the county of registration. SECTION 59. Amends Section 601.004, Government Code, to provide that a person who receives a certificate of election to an unexpired term of an office is entitled to qualify for and assume the duties of the office immediately and is required to take office as soon as possible after the receipt of the certificate of election, subject to Section 212.0331, Election Code, as added by this Act. SECTION 60. Amends Section 521.101, Transportation Code, by adding Subsection (j) to require the department to indicate on a temporary certificate that the applicant has completed a voter registration application form provided by the department, if an applicant for a personal identification certificate or a duplicate or corrected certificate completes a voter registration application form provided by the department under Chapter 20C (Department of Public Safety), Election Code and the department issues the temporary certificate. SECTION 61. Amends Section 521.124, Transportation Code, by adding Subsection (c) to require the department to indicate on the temporary license that the applicant has completed a voter registration application form provided by the department, if an applicant for an original or renewal of a driver's license or a duplicate or corrected license completes a voter registration application form provided by the department and the department issues a temporary license. SECTION 62. Repealer: Sections 13.072(e)(Action on Application), 15.026 (Effective Date of Registration Under New Name), 87.0271 (Committee Requirements Specific to General Election for State and County Officers), 145.006 (Ineligibility Deadline Extended by Weekend or Holiday), and 212.111(c)(Deposit Required), Election Code. SECTION 63. Requires the secretary of state to study the feasibility of developing a standardized electronic format for entering voter information relating to residence address, including reviewing any United States Postal Service approved software for address standardization, for the purpose of identifying duplicate registrations by voters. Requires the secretary of state, not later than December 1, 2002, to issue a report summarizing certain information. Requires the secretary of state to promptly deliver copies of the report to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives. SECTION 64. Requires the secretary of state, on or before January 1, 2002, to prescribe a voter registration application form that conforms to the changes made by Section 13.122, Election Code, as amended by this Act, and a form for a confirmation notice and a confirmation notice response that conforms to the changes made by Sections 15.052 and 15.053, Election Code, as amended by this Act. SECTION 65. Requires the Department of Public Safety, on or before January 1, 2002, to prescribe a temporary license form and a temporary personal identification certificate form that conforms to the changes made by Section 20.063(e), Election Code, as added by this Act, and Sections 521.101(j) and 521.124(c), Transportation Code, as added by this Act. SECTION 66. Effective date: September 1, 2001, except as provided by this section. _Provides that the changes in law made by Section 13.122(a), Election Code, as amended by this Act, take effect January 1, 2002, and apply only to voter registration application forms produced on or after that date. Authorize voter registration application forms produced before January 1, 2002, to continue to be used until the supply is exhausted, and the former law governing those forms is continued in effect for that purpose. _Provides that the changes in law made by Section 20.063(e), Election Code, as added by this Act, and Sections 521.101(j) and 521.124(c), Transportation Code, as added by this Act, take effect January 1, 2002.