By Madden H.B. No. 1819 77R4653 DRH-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the use of write-in absentee ballots by military and 1-3 overseas personnel. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Section 105.002(a), Election Code, is amended to 1-6 read as follows: 1-7 (a) The secretary of state shall prescribe procedures to 1-8 allow a voter to apply for and cast a state write-in ballot before 1-9 the time a voter may receive a regular ballot to be voted by mail 1-10 if the voter: 1-11 (1) is: 1-12 (A) a member of the armed forces of the United 1-13 States, or the spouse or a dependent of a member; 1-14 (B) a member of the merchant marine of the 1-15 United States, or the spouse or a dependent of a member; or 1-16 (C) domiciled in this state but temporarily 1-17 living outside the territorial limits of the United States and the 1-18 District of Columbia; 1-19 (2) is unable to cast a ballot on election day or 1-20 during the regular period for early voting because of a military or 1-21 other contingency that precludes normal mail delivery; and 1-22 (3) makes an application on an official federal 1-23 postcard application form that: 1-24 (A) indicates that the person desires a state 2-1 write-in ballot; and 2-2 (B) contains the information that is required 2-3 for registration under Title 2. 2-4 SECTION 2. Chapter 105, Election Code, is amended by adding 2-5 Sections 105.003 and 105.004 to read as follows: 2-6 Sec. 105.003. USE OF FEDERAL WRITE-IN ABSENTEE BALLOT FOR 2-7 STATE AND LOCAL ELECTIONS. The secretary of state shall prescribe 2-8 procedures to allow a voter who qualifies to vote by a federal 2-9 write-in absentee ballot to vote in any general, special, primary, 2-10 or runoff election held in this state, including elections for 2-11 federal, state, and local offices. 2-12 Sec. 105.004. USE OF FEDERAL WRITE-IN ABSENTEE BALLOT AS 2-13 REGISTRATION REQUEST. (a) A person who qualifies to vote by a 2-14 federal write-in absentee ballot may use the transmission envelope 2-15 for the absentee ballot as a request to register to vote in the 2-16 election for which the absentee ballot is submitted if: 2-17 (1) the envelope contains the information that is 2-18 required for registration under Title 2; and 2-19 (2) the person submits the envelope to the early 2-20 voting clerk on or before the 30th day before election day. 2-21 (b) The secretary of state shall prescribe procedures as 2-22 necessary to implement this section. 2-23 SECTION 3. The chapter heading to Chapter 105, Election Code, 2-24 is amended to read as follows: 2-25 CHAPTER 105. VOTING BY MILITARY PERSONNEL OR OTHER PERSONS 2-26 OVERSEAS 2-27 SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.