By Maxey H.B. No. 613
77R2744 PAM-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to permitting voter registrars to accept voter
1-3 registration applications and digital signatures on voter
1-4 registration applications submitted by digital transmission.
1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-6 SECTION 1. Section 13.002(a), Election Code, is amended to
1-7 read as follows:
1-8 (a) A person desiring to register to vote must submit an
1-9 application to the registrar of the county in which the person
1-10 resides. Except as provided by Section 13.0021, an [An]
1-11 application must be submitted by personal delivery or by mail.
1-12 SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 13, Election Code, is
1-13 amended by adding Section 13.0021 to read as follows:
1-14 Sec. 13.0021. APPLICATION BY DIGITAL TRANSMISSION. (a) The
1-15 commissioners court by written order may permit the submission of a
1-16 registration application to the registrar of the county by digital
1-17 transmission.
1-18 (b) A digital signature on a registration application
1-19 submitted by digital transmission is sufficient to satisfy the
1-20 requirements of Section 13.002(b).
1-21 (c) The secretary of state shall:
1-22 (1) adopt rules to:
1-23 (A) approve technologies for submitting a
1-24 registration application by digital transmission under this
2-1 section; and
2-2 (B) approve technologies capable of creating
2-3 digital signatures that are:
2-4 (i) unique to the person using the
2-5 signature;
2-6 (ii) capable of verification;
2-7 (iii) under the sole control of the person
2-8 using the signature;
2-9 (iv) linked to the registration
2-10 application in a manner that, if the information in the application
2-11 is changed, the signature is invalidated; and
2-12 (v) consistent with any other criteria the
2-13 secretary determines necessary to ensure the validity of the
2-14 signature; and
2-15 (2) prescribe additional procedures as necessary to
2-16 implement a system for the digital transmission of registration
2-17 applications and the use of digital signatures on registration
2-18 applications.
2-19 SECTION 3. (a) This Act takes effect January 1, 2002.
2-20 (b) On or before December 31, 2001, the secretary of state
2-21 shall adopt rules and prescribe procedures, as necessary, as
2-22 provided by Section 13.0021(c), as added by this Act.